Friday, June 26, 2020

Depression Collectibles



There’s no denying times were tough during the Great Depression and “tough” is not an adequate description. The majority of Americans lost their jobs or at minimum, forced to take pay cuts causing families to develop new ways to get by. One of those ways was the manufacturing of dishes that have become today’s collectibles; Depression Glass.

General stores in rural areas and dime stores in urban areas were common sources for the popular and affordable glassware during the 1930s. Back when a loaf of bread sold for approximately a nickel, you could buy a piece of Depression Glass for about the same price. It also became a household staple through what was commonly known as premiums. This usually meant the manufacturer would offer a free gift with the purchase of other products. The glass was plucked from an oatmeal box or detergent box so that penny pinchers could collect a whole set through their normal shopping. Hence the term used by some people during that era of “oatmeal glasses”. Sometimes gas stations would offer a unique piece like a punch bowl with an oil change. Even movie theaters participated by offering a piece of glass with a ticket to a Saturday matinee. They were even given away at carnivals as a prize for playing a game.



My grandmother once told me a story about attending a theater where refreshments were served during the movie on Depression Glass. Once the snacks were finished and people were engrossed in the movie, they would often forget the glass was in their laps. When they stood to applaud after the final act it fell from their laps and shattered. Apparently it was considered much the same as we use paper plates today. The theater simply swept up all the broken pieces and replaced the glassware before the next show. That story seemed odd to me in light of some of her other stories about how nothing was wasted or thrown away. However, I suppose it could have happened just as she remembered it, especially among a somewhat wealthier clientele.



What is the definition of Depression Glass? It’s actually a catch-all phrase for mass-produced, collectible glassware and tableware that was either clear or colored and made in the late 1920s through the early 1940s. The most popular colors were green, pink, and amber. Some of the more rare colors included amethyst, yellow, cobalt blue, opaque black, jadeite, white milk glass, and red. The majority of Depression Glass pieces were made by 20 different glass companies scattered throughout the Midwest or eastern parts of the country.

Some of the companies who created depression glass were Hazel Atlas Glass Company, Hocking Glass Company, Federal Glass Company, Indiana Glass Company, Jeanette Glass Company, Imperial Glass Company, Lancaster Glass Company, U.S. Glass Company, L.E. Smith Glass Company, and MacBeth-Evans Glass Company, including many more. What started as a marketing tool, Depression Glass quickly became popular and a collectible item.


By 1960 Depression Glass had become a collector’s item despite it’s low quality.
Today, authentic, original Depression Glass is quickly becoming more rare. The plates, saucers, cups and bowls that are classified as “Depression Glass” have bright colors and pretty molded patterns that make them as fun to collect today as they were 80 years ago. In fact, Depression Glass is so popular these days it can be hard to find on the vintage and antique market. A tumbler that came out of an oatmeal box in 1930 might be worth several hundred dollars today. More common pieces might cost you just a few dollars. Watch out though, and make sure it’s authentic before you buy. Many newer replicas exist and can pass as the real thing to the untrained eye.


The most popular colors for Depression Glass are light-to-medium green, pink, amber and clear. Most green-colored Depression Glass pieces have trace amounts of uranium which makes the glass glow under black lights. (The levels of radiation are insignificant, and less than our daily exposure from other sources.)



My personal collection is primarily pink with a few green and amber pieces. It all belonged to my grandmother and that is what makes it valuable to me. Start or add to your own Depression Glass collection. You can collect certain pieces, a particular pattern, color or type or a whole set. The choice is up to you! 




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12 comments:

  1. Your post reminds me to look for the box of my grandmother's amber glassware that I've had for years. I'll have to look for that box this weekend!! Thanks for this post.

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    1. Hi Connie. Yes, get your glassware out and display it instead of hiding it in a box. It's so beautiful and you will remember your grandmother every time you look at it. I'd love to see a picture of your collection!

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  2. Wonderful post! I have a few pieces from my grandmother, and my sisters-in-law both collect. I didn't know the history of the glass and found the part about movie houses fascinating. Thanks for sharing.

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  3. Hi Linda. I know, right? I'd love to go back and ask my grandmother all the questions I didn't know to ask when she was here. I love my grandmother's Depression Glass because it's my "inheritance" from her. I don't really add to my collection from antique stores, etc. as I want to know all my pieces were Grandma's, but I do use a beautiful DG bowl my husband gave me for drawings at book signings.

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  4. Interesting article. I've collected pretty glass for several years. Yesterday I found 3 pieces at a half-price sale--2 American Prescut, the other one is a much older divided relish dish and I don't know the pattern.

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    1. I hope you can find out some more information about your pieces, Brenda. Isn't is a wonderful feeling to run across a piece like that to add to your collection?

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  5. Hi Cindy! So cool that you have your grandmother's collection. I remember my mother buying a certain type of detergent during the 60s because there was a free dish towel inside. Thanks for such a fun, informative post.

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    1. Thanks for stopping by Laura! Always appreciate your comments!

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  6. I have five pieces of Depression glass that have been in my family for generations, and my sister has some of it. I do remember getting it in boxes of DUZ detergent in the late 1940's and during WWII. The theater story reminded me of my grandmother. She'd get a piece and carefully wrap and place it in her handbag to take home and add to her collection. Mother loved it and collected it. What I have is from my mother and a friend. I have four pink pieces and one milky white piece I love. I use one of the pink bowls often for fruit salad. The others are on display in my china cabinet.

    I had to laugh when I saw your couple because it's the couple I wanted for my book Cookin' Up Trouble, but then decided her dress was too fancy. Got the same cowboy and lady, but she's in a beige top and white shirt and in her kitchen. Then Cynthia told me we would have had to change anyway since you were using it for your book.

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    1. Oh wow - there is more than one book out there with that couple on the cover. I insisted my heroine needed red hair so they did change it from blonde. Sorry I beat you to it - I had no idea! I'd forgotten all about DUZ. What a blast from the past. Thanks for your comment, Martha!

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  7. Oh, Cindy....someday we need to have a long chat about Depression glass! My mother loved glass collecting and gave me several pieces. I’d need to study which ones are true Depression glass, but I have pink and green. I wish I’d written down the information my mother shared with me. Fun to see the pictures of your treasures!

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    1. Oh let's do that! You and I could find plenty to talk about besides DG, I imagine! I will look forward to whenever we can make that happen! Thanks for stopping by!

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