Golden Amber Glass Lighting Rod Ball

Description

This is a golden amber, glass decorative ball, that was used on a building roof lightning rod. In the late 19th century and early twentieth century many buildings were fitted out with grounded lightning rods. Many of these rods had decorative glass balls that fitted over the cast iron rods. Glass could be used as a decorative element because the glass would not conduct electricity. These glass balls were subjected to all the weather elements, including lightning strikes, and very few have survived. This ball is 4 1/2 inches tall and 4 3/8 inches wide. It is hand blown in a mold with 2 sheared and ground openings. One opening is badly chipped, possibly from a lightning strike.    # B024