Vintage Japanese Glass Fishing Float (Ukidama), Showa 1966-1989 | SKU: 26J-0372-5

Vintage Japanese Glass Fishing Float (Ukidama), Showa 1966-1989 | SKU: 26J-0372-5

A large hand-blown green glass buoy from Japan's Showa-era fishing tradition -- a rare and beautiful piece of maritime folk craft.

An ukidama is a traditional Japanese glass fishing float, hand-blown by skilled glassworkers and used by commercial fishing fleets to buoy and mark drift nets at sea. Produced widely across Japan from the late Meiji era through the mid-Showa period, these spherical floats were typically mouth-blown from recycled green glass, giving each one its distinctive sea-glass hue, natural surface bubbles, and subtle variations in wall thickness that make every piece one of a kind. By the late Showa era, cheaper plastic floats had largely replaced glass versions, making surviving examples of this size increasingly sought after as vintage Japanese collectibles and maritime vintage pieces. This substantial float displays all the hallmarks of authentic handcraft: a deeply concave blow hole where the glassworker sealed the hollow sphere, a small raised maker's seal impressed on the crown with a partially legible mark, scattered internal bubbles, and light surface scratches consistent with genuine net use at sea.

Today, vintage glass fishing floats like this one are prized far beyond their working origins. Its warm olive-green tone and perfectly rounded form make it a striking living room accent or coastal decor centerpiece -- display it alone on a shelf or sideboard, nestle it in a rope or rattan bowl for a nautical vignette, or group it with smaller floats for an eye-catching entry hall arrangement. The wabi-sabi aesthetic of its honest wear and handmade irregularities fits beautifully into Japandi style interiors, Scandinavian coastal rooms, or any minimalist decor scheme that celebrates natural materials and artisan heritage. It also makes a truly unique housewarming gift for collectors, ocean lovers, or anyone drawn to the quiet poetry of Japanese folk craft.

• Origin: Japan
• Era: 1966-1989 (Late Showa)
• Material: Hand-blown green glass, consistent with recycled bottle glass typical of the period
• Use: Commercial fishing net buoy -- tied into nets to mark and float drift lines at sea
• Modern Use: Coastal living room accent or shelf display; nautical centerpiece in a rope or rattan bowl; statement piece in a Japandi or wabi-sabi interior
• Features: Large spherical form in translucent olive green; deeply concave blow hole sealed on one side; small raised maker's seal with impressed mark on crown; natural internal bubbles and surface variation from hand-blowing; light surface scratches consistent with use
• Dimensions: 13"Diameter x 13"H
• Condition: Excellent -- intact with light surface wear consistent with age and use; no cracks or chips

A luminous relic of Japan's fishing heritage -- this hand-blown glass ukidama brings the timeless beauty of vintage Japanese folk craft to any coastal or Japandi-inspired 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 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.