Vintage Japanese Ukidama Glass Fishing Float Ball, 1966 - 1989 (Late Showa) | SKU: 26M-773

Japanese Ukidama Glass Fishing Float | Coastal Decor Accent & Wabi-Sabi Display Object, 1966-1989 (Late Showa), SKU 26M-773

A hand-blown seafaring relic in smoke-green glass, cradled in an aged rope net -- a timeless emblem of Japan's maritime heritage.

An ukidama is a traditional Japanese glass fishing float, once mass-produced by coastal glassblowers and deployed by fishing fleets across the Pacific to buoy nets and long lines on the open sea. This example dates to the Late Showa period, when hand-blown glass floats were gradually being phased out in favor of plastic -- making surviving specimens increasingly prized among collectors of vintage Japanese maritime antiques. The sphere is blown in a deep, smoky olive-green glass with a characteristic pontil mark visible at the crown, where the glassblower's rod was detached after forming. Encasing the globe is its original hand-knotted rope net -- worked in a diamond grid pattern with a radiating star knot at the top pole -- finished with a twisted hanging loop. The aged rope has taken on a warm amber-gold tone, adding to the overall wabi-sabi aesthetic of the piece.

Today, vintage Japanese glass fishing floats like this ukidama are highly sought-after as coastal living room accents and nautical decor objects. Display it in a woven basket or wooden bowl as a standalone living room accent, hang it by its original rope loop in an entryway or sunroom for a dramatic nautical statement, or group it with driftwood and shells on a bookshelf or mantel for an organic, Japandi-style vignette. Its rich green glass glows beautifully when light catches it, making it equally at home in a beach house or a minimalist urban interior. A unique gift for collectors, Japanophiles, or anyone who appreciates handcrafted objects with genuine history.

• Origin: Japan
• Era: 1966-1989 (Late Showa)
• Material: Hand-blown smoke-green glass; hand-knotted natural fiber rope net with twisted hanging loop
• Use: Fishing net float used by Japanese coastal fishing fleets
• Modern Use: Coastal living room accent or mantel display; nautical entryway decor hung by original rope loop; Japandi-style shelf or tabletop vignette
• Features: Deep olive-green blown glass sphere with visible pontil mark at crown; original hand-knotted diamond-grid rope net with radiating star knot at top pole; aged amber-tone rope with twisted hanging loop; intact and well-preserved netting throughout
• Dimensions: 10" Diameter
• Condition: Excellent

A genuine piece of Japanese maritime history -- this vintage ukidama glass float brings the spirit of the sea and the beauty of handcraft into any modern home.

We use professional studio lighting to highlight the natural character of the wood. As a result, the tone may appear slightly warmer than under natural daylight.

All vintage and antique items are sold as-is. Each piece may exhibit signs of age, including scratches, wear, or minor imperfections. These are not considered defects but natural evidence of the item’s authenticity and age.