My lifelong love affair with Depression Glass began when I was just a little girl. In my house, only birthday cakes were showcased on a large pink “Miss America” patterned plate by Hocking Glass Company (pictured, right). In my childish eyes, this intricately cut, blush pink plate, passed down from my Grandmother, was “the best,” only to be trotted out for special occasions.
When I became an adult, I was very kindly gifted that very same plate! And, over the years I’ve added to my little collection with other colors and patterns, as well.
What is Depression Glass?
Made during the Great Depression and through the 1960s, I’ve learned that this glassware was actually not “the best” at all! In fact, it was simply very pretty machine-made glassware that was given away as incentives in boxes of food by manufacturers and distributors. So, you might open a box of Quaker Oats and receive a lovely cup or bowl. It was also handed out at businesses and movie in order to draw in customers theaters (my grandmother always referred to it as “movie glass”).
The pieces mimic traditional, expensive crystal however they are typically of marginal quality (which does not mean I love them any less!). To keep that in context, glass manufacturers produced a large number of these pieces very quickly, without much finishing work, allowing them to churn out plenty of stock and stay in business in a catastrophic economic landscape.
According to Depression-Glass.com (the official Depression Glass website), a contributing factor to the somewhat subpar quality of the glass was the use of new manufacturing techniques, “such as machine-pressed glass and automated glass cutting. While these techniques allowed manufacturers to produce large quantities of glassware quickly, they also resulted in glassware that had molding flaws and noticeable seams, because the techniques were yet to be refined, improved and perfected.”
In addition to the charming rosy pink hue I love, Depression Glass was manufactured in many other colors including popular crystal clear, pale blue, pale green, and amber, as well as other hues such as jadeite (an opaque pale green the mimics jade), white (milkglass), ultra marine, red, yellow, delphite (an opaque pale blue), black, and amethyst.
Glass that… Glows?
While charming and colorful Depression Glass is fun to collect on its own, some of it can also be considered “uranium glass.” When exposed to black light, the glass (literally) glows!
Antique Answers explains, “Uranium glass was first marketed in England, but the craze for the fluorescent glass soon spread to other parts of Europe and the United States. It was produced in the United States by almost every big glass and dishware company until about 1940 when the majority of the uranium in the US was confiscated by the US government to use for the Manhattan Project. Up to that point, the uranium that was used in the glass was raw uranium that had not been chemically processed or changed.”
In addition to glowing Depression Glass, other forms of uranium glass also exist. For example, jade green uranium glass is also called Jadeite, yellow uranium glass is called Vaseline glass, and custard glass is uranium glass with an opaque milky white or slight yellow tint.
Where can I find Depression Glass?
If you love Depression Glass, it is easy to get started collecting. There were over 20 popular manufacturers and more than 100 unique patterns!
In addition to dinner sets and larger serving pieces, there are also quirky desert cups, champagne coupes, juicers, shakers, pitchers, and more. Collect all one color, all one item, all one pattern, or like me… a little bit of anything I can find.
Personally, I love to scour garage sales and estate auctions. And, since just about everyone has a piece or two, tag sales often yield results. Plus, the odd piece can sometimes be had for as little as a dollar!
But even if you aren’t quite so lucky, prices in vintage stores and on eBay still remain quite reasonable… at least for now. At Martha Stewart, the authors of “A Collector’s Guide to Depression Glass” Alexandra Churchill and Blythe Copeland, explain, “The value of Depression glass has been rising steadily in recent years, yet the cost is still quite reasonable. A cake plate could sell for as little as $13, a sugar bowl for $7, and an attractive footed tumbler for $25.”
Beware of Reproductions
Although most pieces are very affordable, some rare items can actually run into the hundreds of dollars. Some of the most valuable patterns include:
- American Sweetheart (Monax) by MacBeth-Evans
- Cameo (Ballerina) by Anchor Hocking
- Cherry Blossom by Jeannette Glass
- Cube by Hazel-Atlas
- Iris by Jeannette Glass
- Juliana by Jeanette Glass
- Mayfair (Open Rose) by Anchor Hocking
- Miss America by Hocking Glass Company
- Old Colony (Open Rose) by Hocking Glass Company
- Princess by Anchor Hocking
- Royal Lace by Hazel-Atlas
- Sunflower by Hazel-Atlas
The value of these makes them a ripe target for knockoffs. And for the novice, reproductions can be hard to spot if you don’t hard an original to compare it to.
Experts at Depression and Elegant Glass offer these suggestions, “Pieces most often reproduced are those that people would buy as giftware, including: Beverage sets, tumblers and pitchers. You may find them individually now.” Candy dishes, butter dishes, cookie jars and shakers are also frequently reproduced. (Click to read specific tips on avoiding reproductions of individual patterns.)
Interested in learning more about Depression Glass?
In addition to local glass groups and Facebook groups, the National Depression Glass Association (NDGA) and Heart of America Glass Collectors provide opportunities for experienced collectors and novices alike to share their knowledge, learn about new patterns, and connect with other enthusiasts.
Or, do a deeper dive and learn more about individual manufacturers here:
- Anchor Hocking Glass Company
- Belmont Tumbler Company
- Dell Glass Company
- Diamond Glass-Ware Company
- Federal Glass Company
- Fry Glass
- Hazel-Atlas Glass Company[3]
- Hocking Glass Company
- Imperial Glass Company
- Indiana Glass Company
- Jeannette Glass Company
- Jenkins
- Lancaster Glass Company
- Liberty Works
- MacBeth-Evans Glass Company
- McKee Glass Company
- Paden City Glass Company
- E. Smith Glass Company
- S. Glass Company
- Westmoreland Glass Company
Thanks for reading. Hope you enjoyed this Depression Glass post! While you’re here, please don’t forget to enter our most recent fashion, beauty and style giveaways. And, for more interiors ideas and inspiration, visit Fabulous Interiors.
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