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March 16th, 2008 by Just Glass Oline Staff

What is Depression Glass?

Most collectors and glassware enthusiasts refer to Depression glass as colored, transparent glassware made in America between the mid 1920s until World War II, although some patterns continued to be produced throughout the 1950s and even until the early 1970s.

During the Great Depression, people of course had very little money, so expensive tableware like china, stemware or crystal generally could not be afforded by average Americans.

Many of the Depression glass patterns were either sold very cheaply at retail, or else distributed as promotional items during this time period; given away with soap, cereal and other products, local movie houses, banks, gas stations and other businesses.

Just prior to the beginning of the Depression, there were over one hundred glassmakers in the United States; by the end of the era, less than half remained in business, with many suffering bankruptcy, mergers, or their plant being destroyed by fire, simply shut their doors.

The important factor that distinguishes pieces as being Depression glass is that it was produced during this era, which extended from the mid 1920s, through the Depression years and up until World War II primarily.

Depression Glass PricesIn general, the quality of glassware was low, with mold flaws and other characteristics that collectors of high quality glass would describe as poor quality. However, this has not stopped the pieces from becoming highly collectible, increasing significantly in value.

In fact, if you read advertisements from the era, you find that pieces were often priced in groups or sets, with a dozen pieces being sold for as little as $1.50 or single pieces being offered for ten to fifteen cents each. Today, a piece that may have sold new for less than one dollar in the 1920s may be worth over $1,000 USD in mint condition, depending on the maker, pattern, color and rarity of the piece!

In general, the earliest pieces fetch the highest prices among collectors, since many of those pieces were used daily and thus, have become more and more difficult to find over time. As with most collectibles, supply and demand determine prices.

Depression Glass Versus Elegant Glass

Today, collectors tend to classify glassware from the Depression era as being either Elegant or Depression glass.

Elegant Depression glass was produced using hand finishing techniques once the glass came out of the mold, while Depression glass entailed little or no hand finishing work.

Thus, it stands to reason that pieces which required more labor are more desirable, rarer and generally command higher prices today.

Hand finishing treatments included techniques such as acid etching patterns into the glass after pieces were cooled, cutting patterns into the glass with a cutting wheel, fire polishing pieces to remove mold marks and grinding the bottom of pieces so that they would sit flat.

Depression Glass Colors

Many colors were used in the production of Depression glass. The most common colors include amber, yellow, pink, green, blue and crystal (clear).

Less common colors include alexandrite (lavender that changes color depending on the light), tangerine or bright orange, and other shades of the predominate colors that were less often used or which mixed colors to produce various effects.

Ironically, many colors introduced during the era, which were not then popular and were quickly discontinued, have made these shorter run pieces quite rare today and therefore among the most popular and expensive pieces to add to a collection!

Adam to Windsor: Depression Glass Patterns

Well over one hundred patterns are commonly identified as being within the realm of Depression glass collecting.

These are typically classified in alphabetical order, from A (Adam) to W (Windsor), thus the term Adam to Windsor refers to the entire range of machine made Depression glass patterns, not including the hand finished Elegant patterns.

The Seven Most Recognized Depression Glassware Manufacturers:

• Federal Glass Company
• Hocking Glass Company
• Hazel-Atlas Glass Company
• Indiana Glass Company
• Jeannette Glass Company
• MacBeth-Evans Glass Company
• U.S. Glass Company

Other Depression and Elegant Glassware Manufacturers:

• Anchor Hocking Glass Company
• Bryce Glass Company
• Cambridge Glass Company
• Central Glass Company
• Consolidated Glass Company
• Co-operative Flint Glass Company
• Dalzell Viking Glass Company
• Dell Glass Company
• Duncan and Miller Glass Company
• Fenton Glass Company
• Fostoria Glass Company
• Fry Glass Company
• Hawkes Glass Company
• Heisey Glass Company
• Imperial Glass Company
• L.E. Smith Glass Company
• Lancaster Glass Company
• Louie Glass Company
• McKee Glass Company
• Monongah Glass Company
• Morgantown Glass Company
• Mt. Pleasant Glass Company
• New Martinsville Glass Company
• Paden City Glass Company
• Paden City Glass Company
• Rainbow Glass Company
• Seneca Glass Company
• Tiffin Glass Company
• Viking Glass Company
• West Virginia Glass Company
• Westmoreland Glass Company