It started with the recent Ebay auction for a Korean 3-piece molded float. The auction featured an embossing called "Yama." According to Walt Pich in his latest book, GLASSBALL MARKS A Field Guide to Identify Characters on Oriental Glass Fishing Floats, it is an uncommon mark.
The embossing appears to be a type of "T." Walt writes that the mark is meant to be looked at upside down. The three upward facing points then denote three peaks of a mountain range.
The seal button on the float was unlike the flattened belly button type of seal most often seen on the Koreans. That "umbilical-like sealing button," according to Walt, is one of the signs of a 2nd. generation 3-piecer. The Ebay auction I was looking at, showed a more normal looking seal that protruded above the float-a sign of a 1st. generation 3-piecer. I found myself excited by the float, and after enlarging it, immediately went to the seller's auction to find out more.
The seller calls himself, "barrysellsall." In the description, it read:
"I am just learning about these balls, so as of now I am a novice.
I have about 1,000 of these balls that are in various shapes, sizes and colors that will be listed here on Ebay!"
That voice in my head began shouting...
"1000 floats!"
"Wonder what he has?"
"He calls himself a novice."
"How did he get 1000 floats, yet is a novice?"
"Wonder if he could use some help?"
Quickly, a question was emailed through the seller's site, together with a brief explanation to tell him that the float was commonly referred to as a "Korean 3-piecer." Just a short time later, when I checked my email account, an email from Barry was waiting for me.
He thanked me for my input, and appreciated the help. That first auction and exchange of emails was a great start to a very exciting last two weeks of "barrysellsall," float auctions.
Barry is going to give it his best to put all 1000 floats up for sale on Ebay auctions. Already, he has posted a number of auctions containing excellent Asian floats including two Giant Rolling Pins, a Binary constructed of two handblown floats-not the mold-blown floats that make up the average Chinese binaries and other fine floats including a pink or light violet ball-in-a-ball. There have been authentic Asian floats, Contemporaries, curios, Americans and a few Euros.
Today, I recieved a box containing that first Yama 3-piece Korean, a Corning in a terrific original net, a wonderful 7inch dia. yellow/olive Taiwanese with the pie seal, and a great 6.5inch diameter Czech. What makes the Czech float so special to me is the color. I've never seen one this color before.
The photos above show the coloration pretty accurately. It's the hue of the Carribean Sea. I remember standing shoulder-deep in those island waters with one side of my face laying on the surface. I wanted to know what color the water really was. As I looked across the water's surface, a small and gentle Carribean swell passed by, and I saw that tint backlit by the sky.
In the days and weeks to come, there is excitement within me. What other floats will Barry will put up for auction? I've written to ask if it would be possible to do an in-depth post about him and the 1000 floats on this blog, and am awaiting his answer.
Most likely, he is much too busy posting auctions, answering emails, and packing floats for shipment to their new owners, to find the time to do a complete story right away.
Since Barry's first float auctions, he has posted about 50 more-with the promise of many more to come. Will Barry have the pluck to handle the task of 1000 Ebay float auctions? Certainly hope so! Have you caught some of my fever? It's great to finally be out of the auction doldrums. The pickings were lean, but not now.
Interesting and good luck everyone, maybe something very rare will show up at Ebay! And good luck with all the sales Barry!
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