The Louisville Ball
“The Louisville Ball”
Manufactured By The Kentucky Glass Works Company
Sole Agents Joseph Griffith & Son’s
Also Dealers In Guns Pistols & Fishing Tackle
Louisville Kentucky
Joseph Griffith & Sons, Louisville, Kentucky
Aquamarine Target Ball
Provenance: Ex: Ralph Finch Collection, American Glass Gallery
The “Louisville Ball” is a heavily embossed advertising target ball that may have been the brightest star in a galaxy of target ball stars in the six-part Ralph Finch Collection of Target Balls auctioned by American Glass Gallery from 2017 to 2019.
The ball was discovered at the 1st Annual Louisville Bottle Show in 1973 and remains unique to this day. Some consider it the top and most desirable target ball.
The visually impressive glass ball is embossed in all capital letters, ‘MANUFACTURED BY THE’ (top line from the mouth), ‘KENTUCKY GLASS WORKS COMPANY’ (second line), ‘SOLE AGENTS JOSEPH GRIFFITH & SON’S’ (third line), ‘ALSO DEALERS IN GUNS PISTOLS &’ (fourth line) ‘FISHING TACKLE LOUISVILLE’ (fifth line) and ‘KENTUCKY’ (sixth line around the base). The ball is aquamarine in color and 2-¾” in diameter. The ball has an unusual 5-piece mold and a rough sheared mouth.
The Kentucky Glass Works Company was incorporated on July 23, 1879, in Louisville, Kentucky, with Edward Bull as president, William Cromey as secretary, and John Stanger, Sr., as plant manager. The operation was located at Fourth and C Streets. The plant made a large variety of bottles and jars during almost a decade of production. The full name of the company is embossed on the “Louisville Ball” which was probably made between 1879 and 1884, though the company was in business for a longer time.
Joseph Griffith & Sons consisted of Joseph Griffith and his sons William and Joseph Jr. They were merchants that sold guns, pistols and sporting goods located at 154 Main Street, between 4th and 5th in Louisville, Kentucky in the 1870s up until the mid to late-1880s or so. They would have commissioned the making of the balls. Here is an interesting 1883 Louisville newspaper account called Two Titans meet at Griffiths.
Two Titans meet at Griffiths
February 21, 1883, the Louisville Commercial
The two titans met in Louisville to much public anticipation. Two of the world’s finest shooters were finally going to meet, head-to-head, in a live pigeon shoot. Yet even after his arrival, Bogardus continued to duck Carver.
Captain A. H. Bogardus, the champion shot, arrived in the city yesterday morning, and immediately reported to the Louisville Hotel, where his rival, Dr. Carver, is stopping. Neither of them “recognized” the other, although they met several times during the morning and dined at adjoining tables. Captain Bogardus remarked to a friend in a fatherly way that the “young’un seemed to be in fine form,” and Dr. Carver was overheard saying as he blushed before a plate of potato salad that “the old man was looking pretty well himself.” Once or twice they glared politely at each other, and the scene was rather amusing. Captain Bogardus would transfix a baked apple with his fork, and then cast a quick glance at Carver, who at that moment was sipping his oxtail soup, timidly eyeing the Captain over the rim of the bowl.
Thus, did the champions dine. Later on, they happened to come together at Griffith & Sons establishment (a sporting goods store) and Colonel Joe Griffith stepped forward and introduced them. The doctor bowed low and acknowledged the presentation, and Bogardus returned the compliment, and for the first time … the champions spoke to each other.
Support: Reference to Kentucky Glass Works Co. – Bill Lockhart, David Whitten, Beau Schriever, Bill Lindsey, and Carol Serr
Primary Image: The “Louisville Ball” imaged on location by the FOHBC Virtual Museum midwest studio led by Alan DeMaison.
Support: Auction Lot 751: “MANUFACTURED BY THE / KENTUCKY GLASS WORKS COMPANY / SOLE AGENTS JOSEPH GRIFFITH & SON’S / ALSO DEALERS IN GUNS PISTOLS & / FISHING TACKLE LOUISVILLE / KENTUCKY” Target Ball, 1880-1900. Aquamarine, 5-piece mold, rough sheared mouth, dia. 2 ¾”, perfect. A unique, heavily embossed advertising target ball, discovered at the 1st Annual Louisville Bottle Show in 1973, and remains unique to this day! Exceptional. Est.: $15,000 – $25,000, Min. bid: $7,500 – 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 the American Glass Gallery, The Ralph Finch Collection of Target Balls, Traps and Shooting Ephemera, An Absentee Auction in Six Parts – 2017-2019
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