Vintage Dark Green Glass Fishing Float | Early Mid Century Free Blown Buoyant Glass Orb With Glass Plug Seal | Fishing Themed Home Decor

Early mid century 1940s hand crafted free-blown thick dark green glass fishing float orb capped with a glass plug seal.

It is about 13 cm tall, wide and deep, weighing 440 grams unpacked.

It is in good vintage condition without any cracks, chips or repairs, showing age-consistent signs of previous use.

Glass fishing floats were once essential tools for fishermen, with records indicating that these buoyant glass orbs were first produced in Norway from around 1840. From the early 1900’s, most fishing floats were handmade in Japan. Molten glass was blown into a spherical shape and then slowly cooled in a kiln to strengthen it.

By the 1940s, glass had replaced wood or cork as the primary material for fishing floats in many parts of the world, and by the 1950’s glass floats were being phased out.

The floats continued to be made in Japan until the late 1960’s/early 1970’s. Later manufactured glass floats (1950's-60's) usually had a makers stamp, and as this float has no stamp, it was likely made pre-1940's.

Early floats were made with recycled glass, often from old sake bottles, which were predominantly green in color. Air bubbles and imperfections in the glass resulted from the rapid recycling process, and indicate authenticity. After being blown, the floats were sealed with a “button” of melted glass and placed in a cooling oven. Wooden molds were later used to speed up production, and floats were blown into molds to achieve uniform size and shape, resulting in visible seams on the outside.

Please view the pictures carefully, and let us know if you have any questions.