Glass floats are appearing in the backgrounds of all the home magazines and catalogs recently, especially since summer is approaching
These balls of glass are unique little treasures from the sea!
Fishermen in the 1800’s used hand blown glass floats to hold up their fishing nets.
Though rarely used anymore today, most can be found along the shores of the Pacific.
I found mine in a local import market.
You can read about my exotic finds by clicking on the picture below.
Just look at this bin of gorgeous floats the store had! Notice how some even had the rope marks!
I took one of these big boys home with me. He’s sitting on a shelf at the moment, but he needs a few friends.
This month’s Pottery Barn catalog has a wire bin holding a glass float collection. Too bad they aren’t selling them!
The colors of the authentic floats are usually shades of blues and greens.
Most are round but some rare floats are tubular.
The floats can be showcased by themselves or grouped together, placed on a coffee table.
What a great conversation piece!
My mouth dropped open when I came across this gorgeous display of floats hanging from bamboo in the Philippines.
How beautiful is that?!
Photo Credit: Frou La La
Small glass float replicas can be hung to form a creative chandelier.
Another option is using small round floats on place settings, as Coastal Living did for a holiday beach table.
If you are in the market for authentic glass floats you can search the internet but be prepared to pay anywhere from $20 up to several hundred dollars, depending on the type and rarity of the float. If you come across one while exploring the coast then congratulations!!! You just found a rare ocean jewel.
Happy beachcombing!
Kim
BEAUTIFUL!! My favorite picture is of the glass balls hanging from the bamboo. I would love to find some to hang from my awning. (Although, knowing my boys they’d shoot them with their airsoft guns..ha ha) You always are thinking outside the box in decorating & I LOVE the inspiration you give. Have a WONDERFUL Easter!
Kim
Just yesterday I did a post on Glass Floats…, including that shot from Frou La La -aren’t the float hanging like that just amazing!!! I have floats at home in a bowl from Glass Float Junkie. She’s a passionate collector and etsy seller.
Beautiful..will you share what import store you bought yours from? I am on the lookout for some also.
This was a really interesting post! I had not known that about the glass floats!Really like your blog and always so enjoy reading your posts. I am having an all natural organic giveaway on my blog and I would love for you to enter.
You will not believe it, but we have a cabinet full of antique bottles of different colors and sizes that we usually purchase at yard sales. We placed it in our outdoor living room and it looks fabulous when sunlight hits the bottles.
dining room sets for sale
We are planning an outdoor dinner this weekend. I showed this to my wife and she was excited to re-create a similar dining table setting. We have a long table in our backyard so it will be lovelier than the one done by Coastal Living.
That really looks great, you just gave me an idea. Thanks
I’ll definitely try this when I remodel our kitchen. Thanks.
Pottery Barn is selling the floats in their summer cataloge. Just purchased 3 small ones for $6 a piece.