Christmas Ornament Made from a Glass Target Ball
Christmas Ornament Made from a Glass Target Ball
- Description
- Molded glass ball. Amber colored, with a cross-hatched pattern overall, and band running around ball through center which reads: “BOGARDUS’ GLASS BALL PATD APR 1877.” Original intended use was for practice-shooting, the opening (pike) of this ball has been wrapped in thin metal wire to be used as a Christmas tree decoration. Patent Office Record: Patent Record #US000189422; April 10, 1877; Adam H. Bogardus; for "spherical glass targets". It is unclear how long this model was in production, but Bogardus died in 1913.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Object Name
- ornament, christmas tree
- Object Type
- ornaments
- Other Terms
- Ornament; Decorations
- date made
- ca 1880 - 1890
- patent date
- 1877-04-10
- maker
- Bogardus
- place made
- United States: Illinois, Elkhart
- place used
- United States: District of Columbia, Washington
- Physical Description
- yellow (overall color)
- glass (overall material)
- sphere (ornament shape)
- metal (hanger material)
- Measurements
- overall: 3 3/8 in x 2 3/8 in; 8.5725 cm x 6.0325 cm
- ID Number
- DL.298065.0280
- catalog number
- 298065.0280
- accession number
- 298065
- Credit Line
- Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Harvey L. Jones
- subject
- shooting
- Sports
- Patented
- Christmas
- Holidays and Celebrations, general
- See more items in
- Cultural and Community Life: Domestic Life
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
Nominate this object for photography.
Our collection database is a work in progress. We may update this record based on further research and review. Learn more about our approach to sharing our collection online.
If you would like to know how you can use content on this page, see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use. If you need to request an image for publication or other use, please visit Rights and Reproductions.