A perfect coastal decor accessory. Our vintage Handblown Japanese Glass Fishing Floats are made of glass and incredibly unique and beautiful. They are stunning on your coffee table, book shelf, desk or any other area you want to add a seaside touch! We love to place a few in a bowl for a eye-catching Coastal Decor Accent.
*Each one is unique, you will receive the exact one photographed.
DIMENSIONS: 3.75" Diameter
MATERIALS: Handblown Glass
CIRCA: 1960
FACTS & HISTORY: Glass floats, glass fishing floats, or Japanese glass fishing floats are popular collectors' items. They were once used by fishermen in many parts of the world to keep their fishing nets, as well as longlines or drop-lines, afloat.
Large groups of fishnets strung together, sometimes 50 miles (80 km) long, were set adrift in the ocean and supported near the surface by hollow glass balls or cylinders containing air to give them buoyancy. These glass floats are no longer used by fishermen, but many of them are still afloat in the world's oceans, primarily the Pacific. They have become a popular collectors' item for beachcombers and decorators.
Japan started using the glass floats as early as 1910. Today, most of the remaining glass floats originated in Japan because it had a large deep sea fishing industry which made extensive use of the floats. In Japanese, the floats are variably known as ukidama (浮き玉, buoy balls) or bindama (ビン玉, glass balls).
