HIDDEN IN THE HOUSE: ANTIQUE GLASS TARGET BALLS

“I never pass a basket of old Christmas ornaments without taking a closer look,” says collector Ralph Finch, whose real passion is antique glass target balls. These objects, made between 1870 and 1920, were originally used for skeet shooting and Wild West shows, before the advent of clay targets.

Made of amber, blue, or green glass, in 3-inch diameter size, these balls can sometimes be mistaken for ornaments, although a closer look reveals such telltale signs as the name “Bogardus” embossed on the glass (Bogardus was the biggest manufacturer of target balls) and a rough sheared lip. Besides the name of the manufacturer, the balls also carry such whimsical designs as circles, bands, hobnailing, and diamond patterns.

“The target balls were made cheaply; they were made to be destroyed,” says Finch, who lives in Detroit, Michigan, and publishes a newsletter about target balls. “They are not like fruit jars or other glassware that was made to withstand temperature changes,” he adds, noting that antique target balls must be handled very gently.

Prices for antique glass target balls range from $300 to $3,000, but the balls are very hard to find (a logical circumstance, given their original function). “I find them at antique glass shows and online auctions,” says Finch. “Occasionally I’ll see one that is sitting on someone’s windowsill.” Finch has also seen antique target balls with a cork in the opening, fitted with an ornament hook—ready to hang on the Christmas tree. To ensure his collection is safe from potentially damaging motion, Finch places individual balls on round rubber washers inside a custom display case.

For more information about antique glass target balls, check the Web site of the Glass Works Auction, or American Bottle Auctions. American Bottle is auctioning the final installment of Alex Kerr’s target ball collection, long regarded as the premier collection in the country.

Also, Ralph Finch (email: rfinch@twmi.rr.com) is happy to answer questions from anyone interested in antique glass target balls, noting that it is fortunate for him that he is now retired. “It’s a full time job to find them,” he laughs.