As
my printer continues to be temperamental (especially when I need to print
something for my upcoming workshop!), I decided to publish my workshop notes on
my blog.
Introduction
What
is sea or beach glass? It’s glass which has been worn by wave action against
sand and rocks until it becomes smooth and has a frosted, semi-opaque finish.
It’s usually called sea glass when it’s found on beaches open to the sea and
having been worn smooth in salt water, and beach glass when washed up on
estuary or lakeside beaches, with fresh water. Beach glass may be less opaque,
but there is no real difference.
Although
these notes are about sea or beach glass, they apply to other beachcombed bits
too. Broken pottery becomes worn in the same way and can also be wire wrapped,
as can seashells, stones, driftwood and other weathered items such as pieces of
clay pipe stem or glass bottle tops.
‘Artificial’
sea glass can be created by tumbling broken glass until smooth and is sometimes
passed off as the more expensive ‘genuine’ sea glass. However, it may be less
random and a better grade than what’s available on your local beach. It can
also be created by using a glass etching paste on beads or glass cabochons,
which contains a mild acid which is still strong enough to etch glass (and burn
skin).
Some
pieces of natural sea and beach glass have been 200 years in the making, and
very occasionally, may be older than 1800. Some pieces may have features (e.g.
the shape of the tops and bottoms, writing or makers’ marks) which help to date
them and identify what type of bottle it comes from.
Collecting
sea glass, pottery and shells
Health,
safety and ecological considerations
Beachcombing
can be absorbing, so stay aware and take care!
o
Check the tide times and be careful
not to get cut-off.
o
Be careful of streams and storm
outlets, there may be patches of quicksand.
o
Glass may still have sharp edges. Be
careful of your hands and fingers. Anything recently broken which could cut
feet should be buried under pebbles, or tossed back out to sea.
o
Be careful where you tread;
weed-covered rocks can be slippery, and barnacles can leave a nasty graze. Try
to avoid treading on living creatures.
o
Glass with organisms attached (eg
anemones, shells); leave it where it is, or if sharp, place under a ledge in a
tidal rock pool, or gently toss back into the water.
o
Don’t touch jellyfish; even stranded,
their tentacles could still sting.
o
Apparently empty shells may still have
a resident, such as a hermit crab. You can check by placing them on damp sand
or in a pool, and being still and quiet for a minute or two, they will often
come out to see if the coast is clear.
Occasionally,
the sea may erode an old rubbish or glass factory dump and copious amounts of
glass end up being washed out (as at Seaham in Northumberland). Supplies around
the Pembrokeshire coast largely come from household and bottle glass which has
been discarded on beaches and into the sea or rivers.
The
weight and shape of sea glass allows it to move differently to some stones. It seems
to be washed up in patches and tends to collect in drifts of shingle and
shells, or get trapped between and around rocks. Very dark green bottle glass
can be mistaken for stones; if in doubt, hold it up to the light. Glass will
let the light through.
Collecting
sea/beach glass has become a popular hobby, and it is now harder to find as a
result. There is a trade in sea/beach glass, with lots available on eBay and
through craft sites such as Etsy. The value depends on the grade, colour, shape
and size.
Cleaning
glass, pottery and shells
Sea
glass, and especially glass on estuary beaches, picks up sand and mud, as well
as salt from the water. This should be cleaned off and the pieces left to dry
before sorting and grading. This can be done in a sink or bowl with warm water,
washing-up liquid and an old toothbrush. It’s a good idea to rinse off the soap
in case it leaves a residue.
Take
care:
o
Glass may have unnoticed sharp edges.
It may also break against other glass and stones, or if you drop it.
o
It is translucent in water, make sure
the sink or bowl is empty before draining the water – you don’t want your
bounty disappearing down the drain!
