Glass Floats Hand Crafted Blown Glass By Jan Mayrhofer on - Updated Oct 15, 2011
I have a small collection of glass floats. Do you know what a glass float is? Asian fishermen of old used to make balls of recycled glass melted onboard their fishing boats to float their fishing nets. In my Dad's day it was not uncommon to find these floats that had broken loose from the nets washed up on ocean shores in the Pacific Northwest. Dad had several that he found while beachcombing in his younger days. Too bad my sister claimed those before I had a chance! Imagine the journey those floats had, traveling across the ocean!
The floats I have were purchased, not found. But that doesn't make them any less beautiful, does it? I have some authentic Japanese floats that I have bought while visiting coastal towns on the West Coast, where they sell them. But I also have some modern artists' renditions of the old glass float, and they are so beautiful!
My grandkids have given me one for the last two or three Christmases. I just informed my daughter that they can give them to me for my birthday, too, if they want! I want to fill my bowl with them. The more, the merrier!
You can find these pretty things for gift giving or treat yourself and add some home decorating flare to your little corner of the world by visiting AvalonGlassworks.com. This glass blowing studio has been just up the hill from Alki Beach, one of Seattle's hot spots, for many years and they have earned a great reputation as a wonderful place to stop in and find unique gifts, or just to take the kids to see art being created on the spot.
I think artist-rendered glass floats make a wonderful and novel gift.
About The Author:
Hand Crafted by Local Artists Glass Floats Purchased at: Avalon Glassworks Price: Gift
It is to bad that your sister got to them first. But you are right these ones are beautiful.
Those are lovely! I might have to look for some for myself.
Oh, I LOVE those balls! I wish I had some :0)
Oh !They are just beautiful.Love to have one.
I love glass floats- sort of a message in a bottle type thing. These are so beautiful Jan, I can see why you love them. I do too!!!
How cool! They may not be the ones you dad had, but you can still relay the history of why they were originally made and how your dad used to find them washed ashore.
I really think these will brighten up any place they are put,beautiful in color.
These are beautiful! We live in St. Louis and have a glass blowing company here that makes similar items. Great gift ideas!
I have a few of these too. I just picked one up at a rummage sale for only 25 cents!