Gablonz Target Ball – Quilted

Gablonz

QUILTED Target Ball


Czechoslovakia

Bright Lime Green Target Ball

Provenance: Ex: Ralph Finch Collection, American Glass Gallery

Quilt patterns in glass are popular, as you see this look on historical flasks, poison bottles, and lightning rod balls, to name a few. Here we see the quilt pattern on a beautiful Gablonz target ball from Czechoslovakia.

International glass ball match illustration

This bright lime-green, quilted diamond or crosshatch pattern occurs on a 2 ¾ inch diameter, two-piece mold glass ball that has a long neck with a rough sheared mouth. The diamond pattern on this example is larger and appears expanded, perhaps being further manipulated after it was removed from the mold.

See our museum example of a plum amethyst Gablonz target ball below. This mold variant has fine vertical and horizontal lines through the diamonds, creating a crosshatch pattern.

Museum example Quilted, Gablonz Target Ball, Plum-amethyst glass color.

See our museum example of a dense black amethyst Gablonz target ball.

See our museum example of a Prussian blue Gablonz target ball.

Prussian blue Gablonz target ball.
Old Catholic Parish Church in Gablonz an der Neiße, Austria-Hungary (now Jablonec nad Nisou, Czech Republic).

Jablonec nad Nisou or in German: Gablonz an der Neiße, known locally as Jablonec, is a city in northern Bohemia, the second-largest city of the Liberec Region. It is a mountain resort in the Jizera Mountains, and also a local centre for education, and is known for its glass and jewelry production. From 1938 to 1945 it was one of the municipalities in Sudetenland.

A village map from the Jablonec Glass Museum collection with icons representing the locations of glassworks, pressing shops, hand-cutting, buttons, lampwork, table cut beads, glass Christmas decorations and other specialties.

Primary Image: Gablonz Target Ball imaged on location by the FOHBC Virtual Museum midwest studio led by Alan DeMaison.

Support Primary Image: Auction Lot 618: Quilted, Gablonz Target Ball, Czechoslovakia, 1875-1900. Bright lime-green, quilted-diamond or crosshatch pattern, 2-piece mold, long neck with rough sheared mouth, dia. 2 ¾”, perfect. The diamond pattern on this example is larger and appears expanded, perhaps being further manipulated after it was removed from the mold. Beautiful color. – 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

Support Secondary Image: Auction Lot 615: Quilted, Gablonz Target Ball, Czechoslovakia, 1875 – 1900. Plum-amethyst coloration, quilted-diamond or crosshatch pattern, 2-piece mold, long neck with rough sheared mouth, dia. 2,” perfect. Another rare color for a Gablonz ball, one that does not come around often. Note this is also the mold variant that has fine vertical and horizontal lines through the diamonds, creating a crosshatch pattern. – 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

Support Secondary Image: Auction Lots 616: Quilted, Gablonz Target Ball, Czechoslovakia, 1875 – 1900. Dense, black-amethyst, quilted diamond or crosshatch pattern, 2-piece mold, long neck with rough sheared mouth, dia. 2 .” perfect. Another rare color for a Gablonz ball, typically found in shades of bright green. Undoubtedly, a color that many collectors do not have in this mold. – 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

Support Secondary Image: Auction Lot 617: Quilted, Gablonz Target Ball, Czechoslovakia, 1875 – 1900.  Prussian, or midnight blue coloration, quilted-diamond or cross-hatch pattern, 2-piece mold, long neck with a rough sheared mouth, dia. 2 ¾”, perfect.  A very rare color for a Gablonz ball, considerably more difficult to acquire than the various green examples. – 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

Support: Reference to What are target balls? I’m glad you asked! by Ralph Finch

Support: Reference to the American Glass Gallery, The Ralph Finch Collection of Target Balls, Traps and Shooting Ephemera, An Absentee Auction in Six Parts – 2017-2019

Support Image: Auction Lot 141: Embossed Quilted Gablonz Target Ball, two-piece mold construction, Czechoslovakia, 1875-1900. Spherical with overall quilted diamond pattern, vibrant bright citron, rough sheared mouth, dia. 2 ½ inches. A beautiful ball that is a bit smaller than most and has a neck that is a bit longer than most. Fine condition. Cindy Gaffney collection. – Norman C. Heckler & Company, Auction #159 

Support Image: Auction Lot 152 – Embossed Quilted Gablonz Target Ball, two-piece mold construction, Czechoslovakia, 1875-1900. Spherical with overall quilted diamond pattern, deep steel blue, rough sheared mouth, dia. 2 5/8 inches; (1-inch fissure from mouth opening). Unusual and beautiful color. Strong mold impression. Cindy Gaffney collection. – Norman C. Heckler & Company, Auction #159

Support Image: Auction Lot 124 – Embossed Quilted Gablonz Target Ball, two-piece mold construction, Czechoslovakia, 1875-1900. Spherical with overall quilted diamond pattern, medium pinkish amethyst, rough sheared mouth, dia. 2 1/2 inches; (manufacturer’s 3/8 inch v-shaped chip from mouth edge). Wonderful glass clarity and pattern. Generally fine condition. Cindy Gaffney collection. – Norman C. Heckler & Company, Auction #159

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