Pirate Glass: What it is, Where It Came From, And When

If you are familiar with the beach-combing community, you might have heard of it, but the pitch-black pieces known as “pirate glass” remain elusive to many. Pirate glass looks like a regular beach rock to the naked eye, but when held up to the light, it glows fiery orange, or deep olive green, or even violet (This is very rare!) depending on what it was used for and when. Pirate glass gets its name from it elusiveness and color— Partly. Most pirate glass did originate in the 16th and 17th century, making it likely that some of the pieces found may have belonged to merchant ships, but possibly privateers and pirates. The glass was likely part of a smashed rum or wine bottle, because the dark color helped keep light out, preserving the liquid. It is a cool part of any collection, so make sure to check out the pirate glass talisman in our store!