Beach Treasures: A Sea Glass Collector's Tale

by Samantha Bennett

he glass bottleneck is broken milky white, and smooth. Holding the piece of glass, Dawn Bosch sits across from me smiling like a little girl during show and tell. Her fascination with sea glass started on a family vacation in the Bahamas. She and her husband noticed a green piece of glass wedged in a pocket of rocks on the beach. “We became so enthralled with it,” Dawn explains, her blue eyes bright. “It became our mission to get this one piece of glass out.” Armed with spoons, and forks they finally freed their treasure from the rocks. Now, eighteen years later, several jars full of broken bits of glass are carefully displayed in their living room.

Sea glass is about more than decoration to Dawn. A few years back, Dawn's husband took a job offer in Maryland. The two packed their belongings and headed north. The air grew cold, the grass turned brown, and Dawn needed to bring a bit of Florida to her northern home: She decorated an entire room with mismatched jars brimming with glossy sea glass. “The sea glass was a very strong reminder of home,” Dawn says. Chunks of turquoise and blue glass ushered in the memory of gentle waves bowing to the warm sand. Pink and gold glass lit an ocean sunset in the gray sky.

Many share Dawn's delight in sea glass, especially in coastal cultures. Part of the fun for sea glass collectors in uncovering the origin of their find. Wording on the glass and color are major clues for the beach side historians. Dawn has found everything from a wine bottle originating in Edinburgh, Scotland to morphine ampules used in the civil war. When asked her favorite sea glass color, Dawn responds without hesitation. “Blue, If I can find a blue piece of glass it's like I found a treasure for the day.”

Sea glass inspires not only collectors but also artisans, designers and writers. Two such artisans are Linda and Jim Jereb of Sebastian Florida. The couple created “By the Sea Jewelry” over 17 years ago. They offer everything from simple necklaces to chunky bracelets. All of which feature hand picked, unique pieces of sea glass from various beaches around the world. Wedding designers and party planners are using sea glass to highlight table settings, and as a seaside version of rose petals lining the bridal path. One designer uses sea glass as a remembrance of the wedding. She wraps the glass in netting or places it in a lovely organza pouch and ties them off with silk cord. The guests take them home at the end of the reception.

Looking for the perfect piece of glass is one of life's simple pleasures. It can be a solitude act, or done in the company of family and friends. Sea Glass has been around for a long time, and like many of life's favorite things sometimes it's tattered and worn but it's always beautiful.

back to table of contents