Novelty Kitchenware Barware Appraisal

Baseball Novelty Bottle Stopper

This item is a novelty bottle stopper featuring a miniature baseball as its decorative top. The baseball component appears to be standard size, or slightly smaller, mimicking an actual baseball with white outer material, likely synthetic leather or vinyl, and prominent red stitching in the characteristic figure-eight pattern. Visible markings on the baseball include 'Franklin' in a stylized font, indicating a manufacturer or brand, and 'OFFICIAL LEAGUE', suggesting it is designed to resemble an official league baseball. The baseball is firmly attached to a polished silver-toned metal collar piece, which serves as an aesthetic transition to the functional cork stopper. The metal collar has a sleek, possibly chrome or nickel-plated finish, exhibiting a slight sheen without noticeable tarnish or significant wear marks. The cork stopper itself is a natural cork, cylindrical in shape, and shows varying tones of tan and light brown, typical of natural cork. It appears to be in good condition, without any visible cracks, chips, or excessive compression, indicating limited use. The overall construction suggests it is designed as a decorative yet functional item for sealing wine or other bottles. The item is presented within a wooden box with a dark green felt lining, which suggests it may have been purchased as a gift item or is being stored carefully. The baseball shows no signs of scuffing, discoloration, or wear typical of a ball that has been played with, reinforcing its role as a novelty or decorative piece. The craftsmanship appears to be commercially produced, with adequate assembly of the components.