Collecting Depression Glass
During the Great Depression, consumers were careful about spending money on extravagances such as glassware. Nevertheless, retailers needed consumers to keep shopping. They started offering inexpensively produced, low-to-average quality pieces of glassware as a thank-you gift for the purchase of a new kitchen appliance or a prize for winning carnival games at movie theaters or gas stations. Depression glassware, as it came to be known much later, became popular for its bright colors, delicate patterns, and reasonable prices. People started buying glass specifically to collect full sets of their favorite colors and patterns. Collecting Depression glass continues to be a popular hobby to this day among vintage enthusiasts in Littleton.
Depression-Era Mass-Produced Colorful Glassware
In the past, glassware was expensive to produce. It was coincidentally around the same time that the Great Depression hit, manufacturers started to develop the ability to mass-produce dinner and luncheon glass inexpensively. Depression glassware often bears flaws resulting from the manufacturing process, such as bubbles or obvious seams. In a finer piece of glassware, these imperfections would have been corrected during the manufacturing process. However, manufacturers kept the cost of mass-produced glass low by leaving these flaws in place.
Colors and Patterns
During the Great Depression, people in Littleton and beyond were desperate to escape the hardship and sadness that surrounded them. Because Depression glass came in a wide range of cheery and bright colors, it offered a bit of a welcome respite. The most common colors include:
Amber
Green
Pink
Yellow
Other colors included cobalt blue, amethyst, and red. Because these are less common, they are now more highly prized among collectors. Depression glass is usually translucent, but there are also opaque collections in black and milk-white which are also highly sought after.
Depression glassware came in intricate designs and dainty, delicate patterns. These made the glass prettier and made it seem like a higher quality than it really was. The names given to the various patterns demonstrate a longing for better times, with some of the most popular patterns among collectors today being American Sweetheart, Mayfair, Royal Lace, and Princess.
History of Depression Glass
Depression glassware was intended to add a feeling of opulence to the place settings that families used daily. They were intended for use, not for show. Because they were intended for everyday use, pieces of Depression glass typically show scratches, chips, or other signs of damage. Like the manufacturing flaws, these add to the overall character of the pieces. Chips and scratches have a negligible effect on the value, which is good because it is extremely rare to find a piece of Depression glass that does not have at least some damage.
Challenges for Today's Collector
Depression glassware has increased in value over the years but is still reasonably priced, making it an inexpensive hobby for treasure hunters in Littleton. However, inexperienced collectors may mistakenly purchase pieces that do not offer the best value.
You can avoid a bad bargain by educating yourself about what to look for when shopping for Depression glass. If you can track down a copy, Gene Florence's book, "The Collector's Encyclopedia of Depression Glass," is a good resource. The book has been out of print for over ten years, and the prices are out of date, but the information about the various patterns available is still valuable to you as a beginning collector.
As a collector of Depression glass, there are two challenges that you are most likely to run into.
Condition Issues
As mentioned, imperfections in the glassware due to daily use during the era that the glassware was originally produced do not necessarily affect value, or if they do, it is very small. However, one thing that you should look out for and avoid at all costs is "sick" glass that has been permanently etched from automatic dishwashers and appears cloudy as a result. Damage from daily use in the 1930s gives the piece character, but "sick" glassware is just sad and worthless.
Cracks are another issue to watch out for because they could undermine the piece’s structural integrity, making it vulnerable to further breakage. While a few scratches may not matter, look out for excessive scratches from utensils.
Be particularly careful when shopping for Depression glass online. Verify the return policy before shipping and ask the dealer for an account of any condition issues present upon purchase.
Reproductions
Reproductions are a much bigger issue for collectors of Depression glass than condition. Because Depression glass has always been so popular, it has been reproduced through the years. As a result, it can be difficult to tell whether you have an authentic piece of glass produced during the Depression era or a copy that, while it may be pretty, isn't worth anything.
Certain patterns, such as Madrid and Cherry Blossom, have been reissued more often than others. Since the pieces were mass-produced in the first place, making reproductions has always been fairly easy. There are resources online to help you determine whether a particular pattern has been reissued or not, giving you clues as to whether or not it might be a reproduction.
Ironically, minor condition issues may speak to the piece's authenticity. If a piece has chips or scratches, it does not necessarily mean that it is genuine Depression glass. However, it is extremely rare for an authentic piece of Depression glassware to have no damage whatsoever. If you find a piece that appears to be in mint condition, you should ask the seller for proof of its authenticity.
Other possible signs of reproduction include a color that looks muddy or inconsistent or a pattern that appears crude alongside verified authentic pieces. You should also be suspicious of any purported pieces of Depression glass that do not have any seams, bubbles, or visible imperfections from the manufacturing process. If you have any doubts about the piece's authenticity, it is always acceptable to ask the dealer for confirmation of its provenance, just as you would about any other collectible item.
Check Out Our Selection of Vintage Glassware at Old Crows Antiques
With over 45,000 square feet of space, Old Crows Antiques offers a unique shopping experience in Littleton. Glassware is only one of the categories of items we carry. Contact us today for more information. And stop by our Rootbeer Bar for fun for the whole family!
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