Embossed Diamond Motif On Base Target Ball

Embossed Diamond Motif On Base

Target Ball


American

Golden Amber

Provenance: Ex: Ralph Finch Collection, American Glass Gallery

Just about all target balls are identifiable by what is embossed on the ball. In many cases, advertising balls have the patent date, proprietor’s name, address, and city. Some list the glasshouse and city and some, with patterns, you can attribute to a glasshouse or proprietor. The E. E. Sage target ball pictured below is entirely covered in typography.

Example of an E. E. SAGE & CO, GLASS MANUFACTURERS. CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. PATENTED AUGUST 21ST 1877 advertising target ball

In this case of our “Embossed Diamond on Base” target ball, we have a target ball that was made a certain way with a pronounced motif of an embossed diamond on the base. We just can not say for certain who ordered the ball and from what glass house? Most target ball collectors do believe it is American.

Our 2-5/8″ diameter golden amber target ball was made in a 3-piece mold and has a heavy, crude embossed diamond motif on the base. There is a flared, paper-thin rough sheared mouth. It is in perfect condition and is considered extremely rare. It also has great character with heavy mold seams, a crooked neck, and it is a bit lopsided with a depressed circular area on one side of the orb. It was described as one of the crudest balls in the Ralph Finch Collection of Target Balls.

We’ll look at a few other similar target balls below. These glass balls are very similar, certainly in size and color, and have a mold circle on the base. Some are different with markings such as dots on the base, dots on the shoulder, a cross or ‘x’ motif on the base, and one was made in a 5-piece mold with an embossed T on the base.

See the museum example of an “Embossed Cross Insignia on Base” target ball.

Example of a similar target ball from a previous American Bottle Auctions catalog sale. There is no embossed diamond though. Very similar glass color.

Primary Image: The Embossed Diamond on Base target ball imaged by the FOHBC Virtual Museum midwest studio by Alan DeMaison.

Primary Image: Auction Lot 565: Large, embossed Diamond Motif (on base), Target Ball, America, 1875 – 1900. Golden amber, 3-piece mold, heavy, crude diamond motif on base, flared, paper-thin rough sheared mouth, dia. 2 5/8”, perfect. Extremely rare with a large diamond motif on base. Great character having heavy mold seams, a crooked neck, and a bit lopsided with a depressed circular area on one side. One of the crudest balls in the sale! – The Ralph Finch Collection of Target Balls, Traps and Shooting Ephemera, An Absentee Auction in Six Parts – 2017-2019, John Pastor and American Glass Gallery

Secondary Images: Lots 526, 720, 721 and 793 listings. – The Ralph Finch Collection of Target Balls, Traps and Shooting Ephemera, An Absentee Auction in Six Parts – 2017-2019, John Pastor and American Glass Gallery

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