Floats : from fishing to the world of deco

The practice of fishing goes back to almost 40,000 years, in prehistoric times. At the beginning of this practice, prehistoric people used to fish with their hands to feed themselves. They quickly developed new fishing techniques by using harpoons and hooks carved from wood, bone or seashell. It is at the end of prehistoric times, almost 10,000 years ago, that the first fishing net and floats were created. Floats have developed a lot since and can now be found in our homes. Find out in this article how floats, essential fishing tools, have become deco objects.

Floats, essential fishing elements

Let us go back in time and discover how prehistoric men found a clever way to implement this new fishing method. At this time, these true MacGyvers would transform elements of their environment to create loads of useful objects for their survival. Therefore, with a bit of linen rope, perforated shingle for weighting, and pine bark used as floats, they were able to catch some fish.

During antiquity, fish was one of the main foods for many civilisations, and thus fishing was widespread. Egyptians mastered numerous fishing methods such as angling, making creels and fishing nets, all of which were very common. No need to say that those techniques crossed borders and are now used by all civilisations. As fishing became a trade, new materials had to be found to make fishing nets stronger and more efficient.

Floats have gone through some transformations in order to improve flotation, keep nets afloat and indicate the spot where a trap is submerged. That is why pine bark floats were replaced by other wood species like birch, in Russia and Finland, but also cork. Afterwards, fishermen developed other alternatives like glass floats, around 1840 in Norway, as well as aluminium ones. Today, floats used on fishing nets are mostly made of plastic.

There are other kinds of floats used in angling, called bobs. In this activity, a float is a bite indicator and supports the line to prevent the bait from sinking to the bottom.

Today, fishing is both a profession and a leisure but emblematic elements such as floats are also popular in a completely different field: decoration.

When decoration gets inspired by floats

For years, seaside style has become a must in decoration.  Very traditional at the beginning, it has managed to embrace the latest deco trends to create a modern beach atmosphere while integrating essential seaside objects.

And that is why the world of fishing, that originally had nothing to do with home decoration, ended up restyling our homes with reef knots, deco paddles or garlands of fish and seashells. It is notable that floats also find a place in our seaside decorations. Their rounded shapes and lightness naturally find their place in our interiors and inspire new deco objects to keep up with the times.

Remember the glass floats created by Norwegians that we mentioned earlier? Well, these floats have long been praised by seaside spirit enthusiasts. Those glass balls, often coloured in blue or green and surrounded by knotted rope, have been used as decoration both indoors and outdoors. Either hung to adorn a wall or put on furniture, these decorative glass floats would add a vintage and colourful touch to an ocean style deco. Today, the traditional and imposing look of these colourful floats becomes less and less appealing to seaside deco addicts who look for trendy and more delicate deco objects.

© Pinterest

However, floats are very likely to remain in the world of deco! With our Deco collection, we wanted to combine seaside traditions with modernity by creating natural and harmonious deco objects under the sign of the ocean. 

Therefore, interiors with a seaside atmosphere may be dressed with garlands of floats, mixing the softness of cotton rope with the naturalness of beech wood. The floats’ notes of colour add a twinkling and elegant look which gently blends into all interiors. Revisited deco floats to decorate your cocoon within a natural and modern beach house atmosphere. 

© Studio 255

Essential for fishing for thousands of years, floats and fishing nets suit the ocean just as well as the house.