Vintage Aqua-Blue Glass Fishing Float in Hand-Tied Rope
This is a Vintage Handblown Aqua-Blue Glass Fishing Float encased in a hand-tied dark rope net circa 1940s. Originally manufactured in countries like Japan and Norway starting in the mid-19th to early 20th century to keep commercial fishing nets afloat.
This fishing float is in good condition with the macrame intact.
It features a hand-blown glass identifiable by slight bubbles and imperfections, wrapped tightly in woven hemp or jute. There are no mold lines further suggesting this was hand blown.
Modern commercial fishing has replaced glass with plastic and Styrofoam, yet this vintage float remains highly sought-after collector's items and popular elements for maritime-themed interior design.
Ready to hang.
Dimensions: approx 350mm (H)
The earliest evidence of glass floats being used by fishermen comes from Norway in 1844 where glass floats were on gill nets in the great cod fisheries in Lofoten. By the 1940s, glass had replaced wood or cork throughout much of Europe, Russia, North America, and Japan. 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 buoy balls or glass balls.
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