Glass Fishing Floats - About what is it worth?

by Cecilia
(Shoreline, WA USA)

Two Nice Glass Fishing Floats

Two Nice Glass Fishing Floats

Blue Ball Flass Fishing Float

~ submitted by Cecilia, Shoreline, WA USA

question on glass float

I have a blue ball glass fishing float with the marking of 1 on the bottom.

I was wondering if you could tell me what it is worth?

I have a green on without any mark, but it has an inny bottom (like an inny belly button) and I haven't seen to many of them.

Is that worth anything?

 Or is that a normal one?

Thank you for your time.

~ submitted by Cecilia


question on glass float

The two floats you have are called Salmon Gillnet Floats.

The blue one is Japanese with a #1 stamped into the seal button commonly found around the Aleutians this particular marking sometimes can be found in a very intense blue bringing the highest value.

Actually quite common the one you have is around a $22.00 float.

The green float looks to be a Contemporary Japanese float.

One way to tell of authenticity is does the float have any scars or scrapes or is the glass pretty flawless.

A early Contemporary float is heavy glass from the mid 50s to mid 60s.

If the glass is thinner it is a Curio float made for tourists {as was the Contemporary} from the late 70s to mid 90s.

The Contemporary would go for around $13.00 and the Curio would be around $7.00 Hope this helps.

~ answered by Stu Farnsworth

Beachcombing for Japanese Glass Floats

"Whether you're casually interested in the subject or very knowledgeable you will find much enjoyment and information in this intriguing book. Worth the time and a great book to leave lying around for your guest to pick up and enjoy." Jan M. Williamson


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Comments for Glass Fishing Floats - About what is it worth?

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Nov 14, 2022
 Japanese Fishing Ball
by: Vicki Beals

When I was 13, my father was stationed on Guam. After a storm, we went out to the ocean coast and looked for Japanese fishing balls. I found one and have kept it all these years. I am now 65 years old. It has hung proudly in every place that I have lived and has been quite the conversation piece.

I am not wanting to sell it but was wondering about it’s value. Please advise. Thanks!
Nov 14, 2022
 Japanese Fishing Ball
by: Vicki Beals

When I was 13, my father was stationed on Guam. After a storm, we went out to the ocean coast and looked for Japanese fishing balls. I found one and have kept it all these years. I am now 65 years old. It has hung proudly in every place that I have lived and has been quite the conversation piece.

I am not wanting to sell it but was wondering about it’s value. Please advise. Thanks!
Sep 12, 2022
 Float ball marks
by: Todd

I have some float balls both netted one is 2 in and other is 3.5 . they both contain the mark three lines over a square.which I guess in Japanese means three and mouth.does this have any value?
Jan 16, 2022
 Glass blown fishing ball
by: April

My dad was stationed in Hawaii in the 50’s. Three to four years before i was born he retrieved a blown glass sea ball while spear fishing. Im guessing 1953-54. At the time it had a net. Its thick, very heavy and has the bellybutton from where it was blown. I measured it and its 52 " around. Im 65 now. He left it to me. Not selling but curious to know its worth.
Thank you
April
May 05, 2021
 Glass floats with seams
by: Anonymous

Glass fishing floats with seams are not "fakes;" they were just created differently.
The earliest floats were hand-blown by glassblowers, who would then seal them off with a "navel" sometimes putting symbols, numbers, or markings in them as identifiers.

In the 60s and 70s, wooden globe molds were created of different sizes and the glassblowers would blow the glass inside the molds. When they cooled, the molds would be opened and the glass floats would usually have seams.

Jul 23, 2019
 Glass sea floats
by: R. Hill

I have 4 apparently old sea floats with netting around them. Diameters are 12", 11", 14" and 5". What is best way to sell and or ship them?
Dec 17, 2018
 Authetic or not?
by: Anonymous

This may be a silly but could you tell me if authentic floats have seams? My father found me 2 large floats at an antique store after I had told him how much I wanted one. One is light blue and one is green with bubbles. Each has an inner seal on the bottom that they can actually sit on but they each have seams. Like they were two pieces and glued together. I'm guessing they are fake but don't have the heart to tell him.
Dec 01, 2018
 How much is my rolling pin glass worth?
by: Brenda

My glass pin roll shaped float has no markings. It is a light green/blue. It is approximately 8" in wideth, 1'8" in length.My dad got it from his dad maybe 60 to 70 years ago. They came Japan and settled in Hawaii.p
Nov 01, 2018
 Just curious
by: Ladybug

My interest got me to this when some of my neighbors asking me about it and want to buy it. I only has one. It's green with a pie crust seal and it has ropes around it.I just wanna know cause they might trick me. And I've read your blog but I just wanna make sure. Thanks
Sep 02, 2018
 British made
by: Paul Webster

I found a glass buoy on a beach in the Hebrides, Scotland 40 years ago. Says "British Made"with a 5-pointed star on the base - glass is pretty clear - very slight hint of green. Can't find anything anywhere about them - only Japanese ones - any idea of it's rarity etc??
Jun 26, 2018
 Glass ball
by: sbooshu

I have a small glass ball with two markings on them both which are two slash marks, I'm guessing they stand for 2??? They've washed ashore on St. Lawrence Island and I am wondering how much they're worth and if anybody is interested in buying them.

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