Photographs by Tina Lam
4 stars
A fascinating exploration of C. S. Lambert’s collection of sea glass and beach pottery. Lambert shares a variety of interesting pieces and connects them to specific events and moments in history; various products, companies, logos, and mascots; and historic trends, traditions, aesthetics, and figures.
Some types of sea glass displayed include Codd bottles and marbles, Davenport glass, bottle bottoms, safety glass, bonfire glass, friggers/end-of-day glass, uranium glass, and kick-ups. Pottery displayed includes chalkware, pipes, and figures such as Frozen Charlottes. Throughout Lambert shares interesting stories and historic events. This includes topics such as the Milk Wars, the origin of maraschino cherries, and the Better Baby competition. One of my favorites to learn about was the tactics of the Wreckers or Mooncussers for supplementing their incomes by luring ships into the rocks along the Cornish coast.
Tina Lam’s photographs are absolutely stunning. She really captures the beauty and uniqueness of each piece. Accompanying each photograph is a bit of information such as its likely source, measurements, and where it was found.
A unique read for those interested in beachcombing, random facts, and the history of glass. Whether you enjoy hunting for sea glass yourself or not, this is a fascinating and unique book to explore.