Bonfire Glass

By Jean St. Denis

Everyone loves sea-frosted, beautiful sea glass.

I do, too! But, what about the ugly stepsister to this glowing Cinderella: bonfire glass? Bonfire glass is something that is passed over a lot by beachcombers, but there is something to be said for its unique beauty. Well, some of it anyway.

Bonfire glass was mostly created from the historical practice of burning trash and discarding it in trash dump areas. A lot of bonfire glass can be found near waterways from eroding dump sites, or near modern-day transfer stations that probably are located on or near pre-existing dumps. Some bonfire glass is also found in trash-dumping spots located in wooded areas and near streams, where trash was disposed of in the past. Modern day trash is now burned in incinerators and much of the glass is disposed of through recycling.

Learn more about the processes that create bonfire glass›

Most bonfire pieces have inclusions of sand, dirt, air bubbles, and all sorts of other “imperfections.” However, these flaws are what makes its appearance so interesting. Bonfire glass is not always very frosted, but sometimes under the right conditions, pieces are tossed around enough to attain that special sea glass polish.

The first piece of bonfire sea glass I ever found was a twisted dark blue opaque slag looking piece. I found it while beachcombing with a new friend, who had invited me along to show me how and where to search for sea glass. When I picked that piece up, I asked her what it was, and she explained to me that it was bonfire glass. I immediately knew it was something I would be seeking out, along with the other beautiful frosty sea glass pieces I would keep collecting.

Some favorite pieces in my collection are flattened-out bottles, bottle tops, and marbles. I also can’t resist a bubbly piece of blue, green, or Coke bottle sea foam. Sometimes you can find two or more different colors of glass that became fused together in the heat of a fire. This also makes an interesting piece. I recently found a bonfire marble, half of it fused to a metal ring from when the trash was burned. I wish it had been intact, because it would have been a perfect ring for my husband, who also likes to search for sea glass with me.

Although some pieces of bonfire glass are not classically pretty, if you find a piece, take a good look at it and decide if it is a “keeper” or not. Some of the pieces are truly beautiful to look at and make a great addition to your crafting supply, personal collection, or to gift to another friend who loves a good bonfire piece.

Let’s hear it for bonfire glass!

This article appeared in Beachcombing Magazine Volume 44 September/October 2024