[imatfaal (OP)]

Hello All,

This is a little bit out of the normal for this forum - but can anyone identify this?  I will be happy to answer questions and I have posted a higher resolution version on Flickr.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22711004@N07/4615666567/

 [ Invalid Attachment ]

By the way - I do know exactly what it is - but I am curious if anyone else might know. I hope uploading works; its first time I have tried

Matthew

[traveler]

Looks like a polished septarian nodule but it could be a bowling ball.

[Geezer]

What size is it?

[RD]

Not another one of these.  []

[Geezer]

It's a clay marble (well, obviously it's not actually made of marble because it's made of clay, but then, neither are glass marbles made out of marble 'cos they made of glass).

BTW - how much is my prize worth?

[imatfaal (OP)]

What size is it?

it is about 50mm radius and weights about half a pound

[imatfaal (OP)]

sorry about half a kilo - will weigh when i get home

[BenV]

Is it a dorodango?  One of those delightful polished mud balls?

[imatfaal (OP)]

Both Geezer and Ben are right - I ignored Geezers answer cos it missed the japanese term and was far too quick (sorry).  It is a hikaru dorodango made from London clay from my back garden.  It is soley clay, water, and a bit of charcoal added to create the black marbling effect - there is NO varnish nor polishing agent.  you can actually see your face in the reflection.

Here's the website with the instructions I followed
http://www.dorodango.com/about.html

It's like making mud pies, but for supposed grown-ups.  recomended over the long hot summer (i pray) as a meaningless but gratifying waste of time.  Matthew