Hunting treasures on Block Island

Since 2012, visitors have scoured Block Island, off the coast of Rhode Island, in search of hidden treasure: hand-blown glass orbs. Correspondent Martha Teichner talks to glass artists Eben Horton and Jennifer Nauck, who create the delicate prizes, and joins other "orbivores" (orb hunters) on the prowl.
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[@glnnchrstphr9717]

I spent two summers there in the early 80s when I was 15 and 16. Two of the greatest summers of my life. I worked at a dock 1 summer and a restaurant the other. Had my first real girlfriend there. Ah, the memories of youth.

[@bridgham1]

I worked at Ernie's summer of 1980 when I was 14.

[@MD-wk3gj]

What a wonderful way to spend a day.

[@jimpinney]

More stories like this PLEASE !

[@fitztastico]

Kudos to whoever from Block Island managed to get this segment to happen. Terrific free publicity 👍

[@pennyskelton1851]

Congrats Margaret on finding an Orb! A wonderful story!

[@briangarrow448]

Those of us who live on the Pacific Northwest coast have been collecting Japanese glass fishing net floats for decades. As a kid, every other home had them hanging on their garage or house.

[@davidcarpenter5154]

Those are the very floats these floats are modeled after.

[@smallfootprint2961]

@@davidcarpenter5154 ... plus the beaches of the town of Gold Beach has a similar orb plant and hunt each year. Love the PNW.

[@romstar]

This was a cute story-brought a much needed smile 😊 to my face!😘❤️🙏😝👍😇

[@johnmeye]

Simple pleasures are the best 😉

[@katiemacwhereuat]

This is in Lincoln City, OR as well. It’s called Finders Keepers and it’s a very hard treasure hunt for hand blown glass art, including floats. Cool to see it’s on the other side of the country as well.

[@lostlatinlover]

Just goes to show that Art & Nature bring joy to this life!

[@loritouma5899]

Love block island.. I never knew they did this!?!

[@Johnysmithapple]

Truly a magical place. Everyone must spend at least one summer there no matter where you are from.

[@judithgeldhauser7778]

Noooooo!! Its our secret!!! ;)

[@ladydeerheart1]

It's not a secret anymore.

[@MisfitsFiendClub138]

We used to go from Montauk to Block Island to fish for weakfish and mackerel in the 1980's. The fishing was excellent, the views of the island were always amazing. A true oasis in the middle of the ocean

[@weston.weston]

I ❤ this story!

[@mililaniman]

I would have fun looking for glass orbs on Block Island.

[@larrysouthern5098]

This is one more thing to put on my "bucket list" right up there with a visit to EASTER ISLAND!!!

[@sherrykelley741]

Such an awesome story

[@terriestapley5475]

Wow, What a Wonderful Story!! Thank you for sharing it with us, Happy Hunting🔮

[@JerryFisher]

I must be getting increasingly sentimental with age. At the end of the clip, a woman finally finding one of the glass orbs after eight years made me cry with a little bit of joy.

[@JackycClark]

Great great story . Love the genuine thrill on Martha's face . Hope the attention doesn't ruin Block Island .

[@MisfitsFiendClub138]

Well it does help a lot that people can't just drive there 😂

[@toddlevin]

You should invite Dale Chihuly's team out the next time they're in the area - I bet Dale would absolutely *LOVE* this story - he created an earlier body of glass orbs (much larger in scale) called the 'Nijiima Floats'...

[@davidcarpenter5154]

Eben Horton was a student of Dale Chihuly and has some of his early work in his collection

[@annsmith7207]

What fun! ✨🌞✨

[@d.virgallito3490]

I paint and hide kindness rocks!

[@absatwell8163]

People do that here in RVA as well.

[@davidcarpenter5154]

There are people who do that out on Block Island too.

[@glam_goth6662]

Love this! You guys rock!

[@glam_goth6662]

Took my first glass blowing class yesterday! Amazing

[@zoecunningham3019]

Wonderful experience of giving, and fortunate finding. Gloriously brilliant tourism for the area.

[@marryellenmonahan5585]

So fun!!!

[@Ira06002]

My family have been going to BI for over 10 years every year. Best hidden gem (next to orbs:) on earth.

[@lalah9481]

Bucket list for sure!

[@makeitmakesense2616]

Cute Reminds me of Mardi Gras. It's the simple things a shoe or a coconut or glass. Who knew?

[@DovZeev]

People like these bring just a little bit of light into an otherwise dreary world

[@kathyhepler382]

In Lincoln city Oregon they have what they call. Finders keepers. The city hide. Glass floats!!

[@davidcarpenter5154]

Some of us east coast orbivores have found those very floats from the west coast

[@julierogers1155]

What?

[@michaeldougherty8344]

Super cool

[@artsyweirdo]

I love it 🥰

[@tompepper4789]

Clearly, the use of a stout stick is the trick.

[@TheGatlinburgHussey]

I'm originally from Portsmouth RI...love this!!

[@janetstonerook4552]

I have been wanting to visit Block Island for the longest time! What a beautiful story and the glass orbs are lovely. My ancestors were some of the earliest white settlers there. Teenagers William McIntosh and Jael O' Sullivan arrived in the Colonies as political prisoners under the Cromwell Rule of England. They married and became the "Tosh Family" and William took the ironwork skills he learned in Boston during his indentured years to help establish a successful community on Block Island.

[@maryschenk4385]

MR HORTON. UR A HERO. SUPERHERO. LORD BLESS YOU. IM STRUCK. ILL TRY TO GET THERE. ONE DAY

[@lovejonas95]

What a beautiful story!

[@ladydeerheart1]

Well, damn. Now I have to go to Block Island.

[@shuffleaccount1985]

WONDERFUL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@halclayton3048]

This is like the master Easter egg hunt!!!

[@ShlisaShell]

I do this with candles. I leave small ones on the trail at the county park near me. The north country trail comes through my town.

[@doubleoseven273]

awesome!

[@smoothiegreenburg6065]

wow very cool my hubs is from wakefield / north kingston i will have to check them out next time im there i love the lobster bouy!

[@reverend408]

What a neat art project with a link to getting outdoors and exploring. Much better than just another version of painted whatevers and placed downtown.

[@daisybollo6094]

Now do a story on Lincoln city Oregon.. who’ve been doing this way longer! Happy hunting anyone!!

[@skysands5743]

I’m missing out on life

[@robertocampano2089]

Amazing People!!!!!!

[@Detah_]

pondering the orb

[@BestFitSquareChannel]

Wonderful ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

[@FreeSpirit47]

It was said that the orb making is subsidized. I wonder if the couple actually profits from making the orbs.

[@heidim6468]

One of these looks like the Christmas ornaments that I bought at Laguna beach arts festival. They are hand blown one of them has mother of pearl in it. There are 6 of them. It must be fun to fine one of these glass ball in private spots. Fun………..

[@wayne8276]

Cool . 😎 ..

[@maxhamman]

thats really cool

[@lewstone5430]

Littering, dressed up.

[@robertkerr9527]

Went to block island once 23 yrs ago with my then pregnant wife.

[@cigarfeeler]

This is what real, good news should be about, instead of reporting on stupid politicians and worthless celebrities.

[@jasonbailey3365]

I make marbles for the world biggest marble hunt #nuggetglass.....its fun for the whole family

[@claudetteholloway1335]

As for me, I just wanna hike with my Honey here...

[@BolitaDeKetica]

it don't get whiter than this...

[@dutchmaster1999]

LOL

[@prestonlowery2265]

Wait…they aren’t antique? Wgaf

[@ronstallworth9421]

Tripping hazard.

[@juanitajones7169]

Dragon Ball.🐲🐉

[@christa526]

This wide publicity is going to ruin the island.