Depression Glass is the colored glass that was mass–produced primarily in the United States during the depression years of the '20s and '30s. It was machine–made and sold in dime stores such as Kresge's, and department stores such as Sears and Roebuck, to encourage the frugal shopper of those hard times to spend a few pennies on an inexpensive piece of dinner ware.
It was also given away as premiums: a glass item was included in a box of cereal, or tea, or with a particular brand of spice. Glass pieces were also used as an incentive to get people across the threshold, perhaps of the cinema.
Depression Glass Colors
Produced in a range of colors that included amber, green, pink, blue, cobalt, yellow, white, red and crystal, the glassware brightened the hard–hit households of the times. Today the most popular and widely–found colors are blue, pink and green.
Makers of Depression Glass
Depression Glass was produced by a number of manufacturers, primarily in the mid–west. They included the Cambridge Glass Co., Indiana Glass Co., Federal Glass Co., Anchor Hocking, Jeannette Glass Co., Westmoreland Glass Co., and the United States Glass Co.
1930s Glass Patterns
Each company had its own range of designs, or lines. Within each line, it produced a range of pieces, and issued it in one or more colors. Some lines, like Adam or Miss America, or Tea Room, consisted of a complete dinner service plus additional matching accessories such as candle sticks, candy jars or ashtrays. Some companies had smaller outputs: Cloverleaf and Coronation only came in a few pieces. Reference guides list around 125 different designs. Some were elaborate, with names reflecting the motif — Cherry Blossom, or Dogwood for example. Some were plainer, like Ribbon, or Modern Tone or Manhattan, these possibly reflecting the art deco style of the '20s and '30s.
Collecting Depression Era Glassware
Collecting Depression Glass became popular in the'60s, and the interest in it has been maintained. Prices have increased over time, as pieces have become scarcer, but other than for highly– sought–after rare items, like certain butter dishes or sugar bowls with lids, the prices are still not that unreasonable for a collectible.
Depression Glass can be found at yard sales, country auctions, antique stores, at shows held by Depression Glass clubs across North America, and, of course, now on e–bay and other internet sources. However, there is that particular thrill from finding a long–forgotten plate or bowl in an attic or garage!
Sparked perhaps by a first find, collectors of Depression Glass might choose a pattern, a color or an item as the object of a treasure hunt, going for the entire Adam output in pink, or for every set of salt and pepper shakers!
Collecting Depression Glass provides more than just a pleasurable pastime, the excitement of the find, or a nostalgia trip. It also leads the collector into an important chapter of modern history.
Resource
Depression Glass has been copied in recent years, and it behooves the new collector to build a solid foundation of knowledge about this popular collectible. There are good reference books and price guides available. Perhaps the best–known is The Collector's Encyclopedia of Depression Glass, by Gene Florence, one of the world's most prolific writers on glass, and his wife Cathy. The latest edition of this comprehensive work is the 19th, published by the authors in 2009, prior to retiring.
Isme Bennie - Ismé Bennie, a well-known Canadian tv executive, is now a media management consultant and non-fiction writer.
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