The Louisville 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.

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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