LOT OF 3: BLOWN GLASS TARGET BALLS INCLUDING RARE HONEY AMBER BOGARDUS

The era of the glass target shooting balls was very short lived. The earliest examples date to the late 1860s and were made in England. All glass balls were obsolete by the late 1880s after the introduction of the clay pigeons similar to those used today. Captain Adam Bogardus patented a round ball thrower in 1877 as well as redesigning the balls adding embossed texture which improved on the earlier smooth balls in which the shot often deflected. The golden age of glass ball production and shooting really only was in fashion for about 10 years. This lot includes three balls about 2 5/8" in diameter and hand blow, each having a neck for that purpose. (A) Rare early three panel smooth glass ball with seams. There is a sticker from the famed Charles B. Gardner collection #2302. He is credited with having the largest private collection of glass ever assembled. Is is embossed only with five convex dots. It is dark amber in color and a bit smaller than its American counterparts as was most likely produced in England in the late 1860s.The neck is irregular. (B) BOGARDUS GLASS PATD. APRIL 10 1877 embossed around circumference with overall diamond pattern. Color is a the very rare honey amber, one of the hardest to find of this type. Neck is a bit irregular. (C) Rare, not maker marked light green with an almost pineapple overall design and a long neck serrated like a pumpkin stem. All are in fine condition.

Item Dimensions: Each: 2 - 1/2" Dia.