Page 54 - Discover Summer 2020
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Gems of the Ocean CONTINUED
pink (often from Great Depression era plates), however, as it is against the law. The beach, littered
teal (which often comes from wine bottles), with what used to be considered trash, has been
black (which is older dark olive green glass), named a National Treasure.
yellow (from Vaseline containers), turquoise
While sea glass has been weathered by salt
from tableware and art glass, and red from tail
water, its sister glass, called “Beach Glass” is glass
lights, dinnerware or nautical lights. Red is found
that has been tumbled and weathered in fresh
approximately once in every 10,000 finds. Lynn
water. Beach glass has a less frosted appearance
has three pieces of red, which she believes came
than sea glass, and is not featured in Lynn’s
from a lighthouse.
collection.
The rarest color of sea glass is orange. A
Lynn’s favorite “haunt” these days is not
necklace made with one piece of orange sea glass
Atlantic beaches, or even the shores of Smith
was featured online at a price of $650. Orange
Mountain Lake. Most days you’ll find her at the
glass comes primarily from decorative glass
Franklin County Community Park, pushing her
tableware, vases, and art glass.
4 year old daughter Madilyn in a swing, catching
Some black glass is very old. It was a thick her at the bottom of the slide, or getting her to
glass with iron slag added to it. This increased the pose for pictures. Maddie, as her mother calls
strength so that it would endure long trips over her, has a little too much energy and curiosity
the ocean. Sometimes, when there was breakage for Lynn to concentrate on making jewelry. Both
on board, the bottles would be jettisoned at the mother and daughter do enjoy their nature walks,
wharf. and love to study interesting and colorful bugs and
plants. They’ve also “found” a couple of waterfalls
Authentic sea glass is becoming more rare
and nature trails on some of their day trips outside
and hard to find, as more and more people become
this area. Does anyone else sense a new collection
collectors. Also, nowadays, more products are
around the corner?
being sold in plastic containers rather than glass.
This scarcity has led to some crafters and artisans Maddie helped us with pictures
creating their own pieces using a rock tumbler. accompanying this article by modeling some of
Lynn says these “home tumbled” pieces are easily the necklaces that Lynn has made, and showing
spotted; of course, they are not as valuable or off some of her favorite objects. Her mother has
beautiful as those that have been tumble by nature introduced her to the hobby, teaching her about
for decades. Collectors also frequently find pieces the interesting shapes and designs in her wide
of sea glass that haven’t tumbled for very long. collection. Maddie also cooperated nicely with her
Lynn has some that still clearly show etchings... grandma, Mary Jeanne Giammattei, while Mom
including one from a Coke bottle. Many artisans was busy showing us her gems from the sea.
will tumble these pieces to make them appear
Amazingly, for most of the pieces, Lynn
older and smoother. This is called “twice tossed”
is able to remember where she found them, their
glass.
approximate ages, and the types of bottles from
There is a beach at Fort Bragg, California, which they likely had come. She plans to resume
appropriately called “Glass Beach”. It is covered jewelry making once Madilyn is a little older and
with sea glass, originating mostly from the mid- requires less attention.
20th Century. Don’t try to take any of that glass,
52 Discover Smith Mountain Lake SUMMER 2020
