by antiquer | November 15th, 2011
Antique Floats & Fishing Nets Collectables
Authentic Fishing Floats & Net
Dating back to the late 19th century, glass fishing floats originated in Norway, where fishing was a major industry. Because glass was a cheap commodity and buoyant, they started producing different shapes and sizes, as the earlier ones were quite small—about the size of an egg. After that, floats started being produced in Japan, Korea and Europe, which is why you’ll discover huge differences in the sizes and shapes of unique and oftentimes, rare, floats.
So to profit from an antique fishing nets and floats collection, do your homework.
To find authentic fishing nets and floats, try exploring the western coastline beaches of Washington and Oregon. If the tides are right, you might also find them along the gulf-side coasts of Florida, Alabama and Louisiana. There’s a plethora of information on the Web and at many coastal antique/nautical stores. And talk to your local museum docents. Experts there are only too happy to expound on the lore and history behind these beautiful relics.
You’ll find the glass floats and original netting to be the most authentic, and usually in only fair condition. After around 1920, floats started being replaced by cork, aluminum and plastic. And commercial-grade netting later on was nylon. This doesn’t mean they’re less valuable, but gives you an idea of when they originated. There also are high quality floats and netting that were produced in the 40s and 50s, but after that, most were made only to be sold in gift shops. Still beautiful, but not as widely viewed in terms of a collectible.
Antique Floats Signature
To help determine the value, again, think of the material used and when it was produced historically. Authentic glass floats were used for fishing. They typically are heavier glass and were produced in shades of green, clear, amber and blue. Most rare are those made in red or cranberry and other gem-like colors. Unfortunately, these are difficult finds because of their age, but beautifully crafted replicas are available. What’s termed contemporary glass floats also are heavy glass, but weren’t used for fishing. Also look for “hot marks,” or signatures that identified the glass factory that produced them. You’ll find signatures on most authentic and contemporary glass floats.
Another way to determine value is to check the netting. Netting colors vary, but most were made from shades of brown or black and hand-tied. If original, you will see some damage, but value is somewhat maintained if the netting is clean and odor-free.
Having accurate information is key to becoming a knowledgeable collector, someone who not only may profit, but who finds fulfillment from an engaging and fun activity.
Hi, My son knows I like & collect fish floats of all kinds. He bought me this crazy thing. It’s 3 green floats fuzed together. I have found some info on it. I was wondering if you knew if they were used for anything. I see you have a binary float on your page so I thought I would ask if you knew anything about the triple float.
Thanks & have a great day!, Leisa
Hello Leisa,
How fun your son is helping with your collection of fishing floats. It’s pretty, colorful and steeped with history, so we think it’s a very fun one to hone your collection skills with.
Depends on age, material (glass vs plastic) a signature stamp of some sort and where perhaps it was made. All these things help in determining the value of each float.
If the floats are modern reproductions they are probably for decoration only. If the floats are antiques the doubles are quite easily available but the triples are much harder to find. Many come from Japan and are quite rare and valuable.
Enjoy!