Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 09/11/2007 - 06:31
Forums
Kuril Islands Biocomplexity

Why did you collect so many glass floats?

Are they valuable or considered an antique?

 -Rhea

Wed, 09/12/2007 - 10:56

Misty Nikula

RheaThe glass floats aren't really THAT valuable - not like I could sell them for very much money or anything - nor are they really antiques, even though the Japanese fisherman don't use them any more.
It's mostly that all of my life I heard about them from my Grandma - she used to be able to collect them on the beaches in Washington.  Back then, they were more prevalent and it was more common (though still pretty cool) to find them on the beach all the way over here.  You can also find them on the beaches in Alaska.  All of my life I had hoped to find one, but I NEVER had!
So - when we went to the Kuril Islands and we could find them relatively "easily", I thought that was very cool.  Also, not very many people, even those who have glass floats, have one from the Kuril Islands! So I collected them and brought a bunch back for myself and also to give to people as presents. (And now you have one! Congratulations!) 
Ms Nikula 

Thu, 04/16/2009 - 13:24

K B

Beachcombed Japanese glass floats are vintage, the "average" age is 60 to 75 years ago. Some glass floats are antiques depending on what country or origin - over 100 years old. Most glass floats are common, but some are rare, and are valued by the color, shape or writing - and age/condition. They can be worth many hundreds of dollars, if not thousands of dollars to a collector. Thank you KB.