About Sea Glass

It is rather endearing that sea glass is referred to the world over as ‘mermaids teardrops.’ Though to see them it is not difficult to understand why. The size, texture and frosted colour are impossible to recreate artificially (and many have tried). It has an almost a magical allure. 

 

My initial journey began with many hours of online study and research, wherein I learned of the rich history of sea glass: 

 

Where does sea glass come from?

 

Sea glass begins its life as broken bottles, discarded glassware and even debris from shipwrecks. These waste products are thrown into the sea, and Mother Nature begins her own recycling process.

 

The glass is tossed and tumbled by the waves. Larger pieces are broken down and lose their sharp edges. Friction with materials in the sea and frequent weathering causes the glass to abandon its slick appearance in favour of the familiar frosted appearance that we have come to associate with sea glass. 

 

Perhaps most fascinating of all, is the length of time needed for sea glass to be produced. On average it takes between twenty and forty years of constant erosion for sea glass to be formed. Some pieces have been discovered that are over two hundred years old!

 

Consider it, the glass that you find on your home shores was thrown into the sea perhaps many years before you or even your parents were born.

 

I started to feel like an archaeologist, tracing the origins of my finds and uncovering the local and social trends of years gone by.