The Sea Glass Shard of the Month: July 2014
A Patriotic, Multi-Colored Gem From England
A multi-colored sea glass shard originating from a Victorian era glass factory in England.
Sea Glass Specifications:
Color: Red, White & Blue
Length: 25.7 mm (1.010")
Width: 21.2 mm (0.835")
Thickness: 10.4 mm (0.410")
Weight: 8.6 grams (0.30 ounces)
For the month of July this red, white and blue multi-colored sea glass shard has been chosen in recognition of America's independence from England. The irony with this selection is that, in fact, it originally came from England — more specifically, the northeast region where the windswept surf of the North Sea collides with the rocky shores of Seaham. It was in this area that a Victorian glass factory once operated, providing the source for many of the most beautiful and unusually multicolored sea glass found in the world.
Multi-colored sea glass shards from this area come in a myriad of shapes, colors and designs.
It was in the early 1850s that John Candlish started the Londonderry Bottle Works (originally the Seaham Bottle Company[1]) where, for approximately 70 years of operation, unfathomable amounts of left over, end-of-day glass found its way into the chilly waters of the North Sea. It is at that moment that Mother Nature started to work her magic, transforming the glass into beautifully colored sea glass gems.
The factory closed in 1921, and was eventually torn down in 1950, but the sea continues to deposit these precious baubles along the shores of Seaham for lucky beachcombers to collect. It is becoming increasingly harder to find these precious stones, as awareness of their existence and value increases. On one UK online forum a member lamented that "...as little as 10 years ago you could probably have picked up a bucketful (of sea glass) in a day. Now you would be lucky to find 10 good pieces!"
REFERENCES:
1. http://www.bottlebooks.com/blglssin.htm
2. LaMotte, Richard, Pure Sea Glass, Chesapeake Seaglass Publishing, 2004
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