Museum Archive: Vintage Herter's Glass eye spoon, 2/5oz Nickel fishing spoon #8666

Faceted orange glass beads are securely pinned through the metal body, acting as light-catching eyes for this classic nickel-finished spoon. Measuring 2 1/4" (5.5 cm), this specimen carries product code 8666 and remains in 5/5 condition, showing a bright, polished surface. These Japanese-made lures were a staple in the Herter's catalog, designed with enough heft at 2/5 oz (11g) for effective casting into weedy pockets or slow-rolling through deep structure. The reverse side clearly shows the "HERTER'S JAPAN" stamp, a hallmark of the quality manufacturing the brand sourced during that era. The hardware consists of a sturdy split ring and a sharp treble hook, suggesting it was intended for larger freshwater predators like pike or trophy bass. Each glass bead is hand-mounted with wire through pre-drilled holes, providing a textured, three-dimensional element that differentiates it from standard painted spoons.