Customer Reviews

Pure Sea Glass: Discovering Nature's Vanishing Gems

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I was born in a coastal town and have always loved the ocean, walking on the beach, sailing - almost everything that has to do with the sea. When I was a little girl, my mother used to take me for walks along the coast, especially after a storm, to see what strange and interesting items had washed up on shore. So it is surprising that I have never collected sea glass, until recently that is. I was working on a craft project for a gift and thought that a few pieces of sea glass would make a beautiful and meaningful addition. Once I looked into acquiring the glass my interest peaked. So before I went any further, I bought a copy of Richard LaMotte's renowned book "Pure Sea Glass: Discovering Nature's Vanishing Gems" on the advice of a longtime collector and jewelry maker.

This is an excellent volume, especially for beginners who are interested in learning about, searching for and collecting sea glass. A major added attraction is that there are over 150 exquisite and elegant photographs by Celia Pearson included here, presenting some of the beat specimens ever collected, along with a vast array of classical glassware from around the world that is often its source. The visuals are displayed in a manner that reminds me of Japanese Zen aesthetics. I am not a big coffee table book person, but my copy is on my table and most people who sit in my living room for longer than 15 minutes usually pick it up and peruse with delight.

The book is a comprehensive guide, chock full of information on finding and identifying these gems, the bits of aged glass, enhanced by years beneath the sea or caught in the tides that wash our coasts. There are 224 pages with chapters on the history of sea glass and the history of sand, (fascinating), different types of glass, (bottles, containers, tableware, utility and flat glass, like window glass - plain and stained, marbles, insulators and bonfire glass - from ship and shore, etc.), and appraising rarity, along with many other interesting topics.

So I am hooked. After a recent hurricane I made a day trip to Montauk, NY, and actually found some wonderful pieces on the beach at low tide - one a real jewel!

Mr. LaMotte is a native of southeastern Virginia and now lives on Maryland's Eastern Shore. He has been collecting for decades. His wife, Nancy, started a sea glass jewelry business using shards from nearby Chesapeake Bay. Ms. Pearson is a professional and fine art photographer with more than 25 years experience.

I recommend this superb book to everyone who appreciates art and finds delight in learning about the unusual. One does not have to be a collector to enjoy "Pure Sea Glass." It also makes a great gift. ENJOY!
JANA

Rebeccasreads highly recommends PURE SEA GLASS as a must have for all the beachcombers who wander the strands of the world, bending to pick up those gorgeous fragments of glass.

PURE SEA GLASS offers history & facts about the globs of glass washed up by the waves, as well as page after page of exhilerating colors & shapes the glass comes in, & images of the seashore.

No seaside hotel, motel or B&B should be without this beautifully presented guide book. Do check out pureseaglass for when the author will be near you. TEN STARS!

This book was informative without being boring. It gives good tips on how to find sea glass and simple ways to rate its value. I found the history of how it comes to be most interesting plus it has beautiful pictures!

I mean really, what's not to like. What could possibly be wrong with a book written about such a benign pastime. It almost sounds green - it is green! Picture this, you're at the seashore, strolling casually along, eyes to the sand, and you're intentionally removing pieces of glass (from broken bottles, etc.) that other, assumedly uncaring folk (litterbugs actually) have strewn into the sea. And we've made a sport of it too! Honestly though this is a nice book with loads of information, and really nice photos. The best of its genre I think. Makes me almost wish I lived by an open stretch of convenient beach.

I love to sit down after I've collected some sea glass from a day at the beach and read this book. I love this book. I've learned so much from "Pure Sea Glass", for example what time of the year, what time of the month and where to search for sea glass. The photographs are wonderful and colors are treat for your eyes. I leave this book along with "Sea Glass Chronicles-Whispers from the Past" on my coffee table. I've catch members of my family and my daughters friends looking through this book. "Pure Sea Glass" has encouraged my husband and our daughter, along with her friends(20Y and older) to go out sea glass hunting. It's a wonder book...a must have for any beachfront owner or beach loving folk.

A friend had a copy of this book on her coffee table, and after only a quick glance, I knew I had to have my own! But let me warn you, it will turn any casual beachcomber picking up bits and pieces of sea glass into a passionate, even obsessive collector. The author shares impeccable research as well as a love for this gift of nature that is just irresistible. Give this book to anyone who loves sea glass--and you'll be overwhelmed by the thanks you'll get! First, though, treat yourself to a copy--it's just wonderful.

Pure Sea Glass by Richard LaMotte is an awesome book. If you are into sea glass or want to get into it or are curious about just what on earth sea glass is...this is the book you need. It has interesting, historical facts, gorgeous, close-up photos, and is extremely well-researched. I have collected Sea Glass my whole life, becaue it was "pretty". (We always called it smooth glass). There is soooo much more to this interesting glass than just its' pretty looks. Mr. LaMotte offers detailed descriptions of the chemical compositions of various glasses and a unique look at the history of glass ware. And what a thrill to learn that I own several extremely rare pieces! Who knew? Check this book out...you'll be pleasantly surprised. It also makes a great coffee table book for those of you that don't really want to read anything but want a beautiful book on your table!

Richard LaMotte did a wonder-filled job of putting together this informative and comprehensive book on sea glass. I honestly have enjoyed reading every page. I had no idea that there was so much history hidden in every piece of glass, and even though I have collected glass over the years, I never understood the relationship between winds and tides and the weather that deposits these beautiful little gems on our shores. Mr. LaMotte shares all this knowldege with such passion that reading his book not only feed my intellect but also inspired the beachcomber in me. And, the photographs are simply beautiful. Every image works to support as well as illustrate all the topics that are being discussed. The entire book is truly a piece of art in itself. I will read and re-read this book. It is a must for anyone and everyone who loves sea glass.

This a wonderful book - whether you are a sea glass collector or not! The photography is beautiful and there is a wealth of information for both the serious and novice collector. I immediately looked through my collection for "finds" and can't wait to get back to the beach to find more.

Winner of the Writer's Digest International Self-Published Book Award, Pure Sea Glass: Discovering Nature's Vanishing Gems is a beautiful tour for collectors, beachcombers, and nature enthusiasts. Over 150 photographs of the natural treasures include numerous samples of collected sea glass and artworks created from sea glass, while chapters cover where and how to find sea glass, its many types and colors, appraising its rarity, a history of sea glass, and much more. A truly unique and beautiful artbook, written by an experienced sea glass collector and retailer and photographed by a master.