Sorry for the generic title, I figured more people would come in. 
Also I couldn’t figure out a succint phrasing for what I’m asking.
My friends and I went to a local fair a few months ago. As happens at these things, we ran out of spending money fairly fast.
However, towards the end of the day, we passed some stalls for regional craftspeople. One was selling some strange-looking decorative hanging… things. They consisted of a glass ball about 5cm in diameter, sitting ‘inside’ a vertical spiral made of what I assume was steel. When spun, this created the illusion that the ball was always moving towards one end of the spiral, depending on which way you spun it. Of course it wasn’t, it was rotating but not rising/falling. It looked cool, though.
The man running the stall wasn’t able to give me much info apart from ‘my wife makes them’. They travelled to various fairs selling them but didn’t sell them over the internet or phone. There was no way I could get one from them later as they would be moving along the next day - I got a flat out ‘no’ to posting one to me. He was singularly unhelpful and didn’t even know what the things were called himself. Although he did say it was not their own design and they had come across others making/selling them before. Grrr.
Anyway, this is just the sort of thing my uncle would love and it’s his 50th in about 2 months. I would really like to get him one (and maybe one for me)!
Has anyone seen one before - or even know what I’m talking about? My frantic googling has come to nothing. I can’t really figure out what words and phrases to use.
I think what you’re describing is called a “cosmic wind spinner.” This should get you started.
A search on ebay for “glass ball spiral” gives this:
http://search.ebay.com/glass-ball-spiral_W0QQfromZR8QQfsooZ1QQfsopZ1QQssPageNameZRC0022
They seem to fit your description.
FWIW, I’m not sure I’ve been to a fair in about the past decade that didn’t have at least one person selling the things. So if you’re one of those people who prefer to see items in person before buying and if you have any fairs coming up, there’s a good chance you’ll be able to find them again. (If you decide not to just get one online, of course.)
Oh my god, you all rule.
I don’t think ever asked a question on here that hasn’t been answered within like 2-3 replies.
Seriously, I’m gonna make cookies to celebrate. I’ll have to eat them for you, but remind me, if I see you, I owe you cookies.
I would wait for the next fair, but we have only 1 per year (or at least only one that isn’t dedicated to a specific product/idea ie; Book fair, Hot Air Balloon Festival, Folk festival etc…)
Sounds like they’re commonplace for you guys. Wonder why I hadn’t seen one before? Maybe I’m just ignorant.
Thanks guys!
Upon wandering various ebay sites… they are common as muck almost everywhere outside Australia - where I live. That explains that, at least.
They’re becoming pretty common in Australia too. My brother bought one at a market for my parents a few months ago. I’ve since seen at least four others at various friends’ houses.
They seem rather silly to me.
I guess they are, but that’s the sort of thing he likes, my uncle. Anything with a hint of visual illusion.