Art Bateman’s Jewels of the Deep

An important component of glass is molten sand! Frosted pieces of seaglass scoured by the action of waves and rock on glass is the sea’s attempt to regain that element of sand from glass and return it to its watery depths. True gems from the ocean, our Eastern Canadian stones abound with such treasure, many from the scores of shipwrecks that dot our Maritime coast, some going back hundreds of years.

One of the most interesting and pleasurable pastimes in our region is collecting these bright bits of frosted glass, and no one is more adept at finding these little pieces of history than Art Bateman of St. Edeuard, NB. Artist and entrepreneur, Art has parlayed his hobby into a lucrative business, transforming seaglass into lovely jewellery. Adorned with Sterling silver findings, Art creates lovely necklaces, pendants, and earrings in a range of colours muted by the ocean to become true "Jewels of the Deep." Passionate about his hobby, Art has taken the time to research seaglass and is well educated on the various colours and eras in history from which each piece hails. As he says, "My ‘jewels’ of seaglass are individually hand-picked on the beaches and seashores of Atlantic Canada by me and my dogs. Their shapes are unaltered and are exactly as the ocean surrendered them after hiding them for decades in its depths. Many are known to date back well over 100 years and no two are the same. Their histories are as varied as each piece is unique. Could they be from a long-forgotten shipwreck or a broken decanter thrown overboard years ago?

We know that purples and pinks, as well as some greens and clears, are from the Depression era. They are very rare, as are the aquas, mostly from the early 1900's. The very dark greens (black glass) are known to date back to the 1800's and are mostly European. Blues are rare because they are very soft glass. I use only those pieces that are time-worn to smooth edges. The rest, I return to the sea. The pendants are carefully drilled and fixed with a simple Sterling silver hanger to allow the beauty of the glass to be the focal point." Al also deals with vintage glass jars and bottles.

Art Bateman can be found during the summer months at the Bouctouche Farmers Market each Saturday or he can be contacted at 1-506-743-5678 or by email at achilles@nbnet.nb.ca anytime. Looking for jewellery that is beautiful and unique? Need a gift for someone special in your life? Invest in a piece of Art Bateman’s seaglass treasures and enjoy your gift from the sea!