What is Depression Glass?

Depression Glass – Brief Summary

“Depression Glass” might be defined as collectible, mass-produced glassware (principally tableware), inexpensively produced and very popular in average American households beginning in the late 1920s, throughout the 1930s and into the 1940s.

“Depression glass” is also a term that is sometimes bandied about indiscriminately by glass collectors,  sometimes incorrectly.  Basically, this is a catch-all phrase for a general type of inexpensive glassware, in clear or colors, that was sold (or given away as premiums) during the late 1920s into the early 1940s.

Note: Some “Depression Glass” patterns have been reproduced in more recent years, notably in the 1970s, but even up to the present day.   (Much of so-called Depression glass for sale on online auction sites is actually reproduction glass, made in Asia during the last few years, even being imported today!  Terms used such as “Depression era-style” or “Depression style” indicate these are new or recent items.)

Large quantities of true Depression glass was made, by more than 20 different glass companies, and virtually all of these manufacturers were located in the Midwest or Eastern United States.

The most common and popular colors produced were light to medium green, pink, and amber (usually a light yellow-amber or golden amber), along with clear glass (called “crystal” in company catalogs of the time period).   Colors that were made in lesser quantities, and thus are harder to find, include amethyst, true yellow (canary), cobalt blue, opaque black (may appear intense purple when held to the light), jadeite (an opaque or translucent green), white milk glass, and red.

The great majority of the green Depression-era glass contains very small quantities of uranium, which causes the glass to glow a fluorescent green under an ultraviolet light (blacklight).  This type of glass is sometimes incorrectly labeled “Vaseline glass”, although true Vaseline glass (also containing uranium) is a separate category, trending to some shade of yellow or canary, and much of that type of glass actually dates from the late Victorian era, having reached a height of popularity in the mid to late 1880s.


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Depression Glass green dish -  A reader has stated this is the "Modernistic" pattern by Westmoreland Glass Company, possibly a cheese stand.   Any additional info appreciated!
Depression Glass green dish –  A reader has stated this is the “Modernistic” pattern by Westmoreland Glass Company, possibly a cheese stand.   Any additional info appreciated!

The most important companies to produce Depression glassware include:  Hazel Atlas Glass Company,  Hocking Glass Company (and later Anchor Hocking Glass Company/Corporation),   Federal Glass Company,  Indiana Glass Company,  MacBeth-Evans Glass Company,  Jeannette Glass Company,  Imperial Glass Company,  Lancaster Glass Company,  U.S. Glass Company,  L. E. Smith Glass Company  and  Westmoreland Glass Company.

For a webpage that illustrates many of the known patterns of Depression Glass, check out this article on the sprucecrafts.com site: https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/depression-glass-patterns-4066124 .

Much of this type of glass was given away as premiums, as a marketing ploy to help increase sales of a product or service. Small saucers or tumblers might be included inside a box of oatmeal, or given away at a gas station with a gasoline fill-up. Some businesses would give away one piece of glassware to each customer just for coming in the door.

SHARON or CABBAGE ROSE pattern dinner plate in pink glass, made by Federal Glass Company, Columbus, Ohio in the 1930s.
“Sharon” or “Cabbage Rose” pattern dinner plate in pink glass, made by Federal Glass Company in the 1930s.

 


Some of these pieces were given away at carnivals or fairs, as a prize for throwing a coin accurately if you managed to get it to land inside a piece of glassware, or to win another type of prize at the booth.  (Although so-called “Carnival Glass”  is a separate category, that term is also frequently misunderstood).   Carnival Glass, first produced about 1908, and extremely popular throughout the 1920s,  and again in the 1970s,  is merely a general term which means glass that has been “carnivalized”, that is, has an  iridescent multi-colored “rainbow sheen” or “gasoline on water puddle” appearance, produced by spraying metallic salts on the glass surface during manufacture.   For more information on Carnival Glass, check out this great site: https://www.ddoty.com/ ).

Some Depression pieces are hard to classify as to the exact pattern name, or might be called “generic” pieces, such as some rather plain-looking sugar bowls, salt shakers, ashtrays or other items that don’t seem to match any photos in depression glass price guidebooks.

Although much of this type of glass is of low to medium quality (for instance, because of molding flaws), Depression glass has been highly collectible since the 1960s, but with the market fluctuating somewhat… up and down in cycles….over the last several decades.

Due to its popularity as a collectible, authentic Depression glass is gradually becoming more scarce on the open market, although auction sites such as ebay have revealed large quantities of pieces in various patterns that had previously been unavailable to the average collector (with only local or regional antique shops and flea markets to browse through for finds).
Some of the most common pieces in a plentiful pattern may sell for only a few dollars, but rare pieces in certain patterns can sell for hundreds of dollars at depression glass shows.


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Some manufacturers continued to make the most popular glass patterns after World War II, or introduced similar patterns, which are also collectible.

Another category of “Depression era” glass, usually handmade with more care and thus higher quality, is more accurately labeled “Elegant Glass”, as produced by such companies as Westmoreland Glass Company, Imperial Glass Company, Fostoria Glass Company, A. H. Heisey & Company, and others.

For more information on Depression glass, there are several websites online.  For example, you might try the home page of the National Depression Glass Association here .


RECOMMENDED BOOKS

Every serious collector of Depression Glass would greatly benefit from obtaining and studying copies of “Colored Glassware of the Depression Era” (1970) and “Colored Glassware of the Depression Era, Book 2” (1974), written by noted collector, author and researcher Hazel Marie Weatherman.  These books may be available for loan at some local libraries, and are also available for sale through online book sellers.  The books have been widely reprinted since the 1970s,  and are chock full of great background information and photos– describing many patterns and pieces, and including reprints of various glass catalog pages, with information on many glass companies of that era that produced at least some depression glass.

Also, I would strongly recommend the “Collector’s Encyclopedia of Depression Glass” series of books by Gene and Cathy Florence. This book has been through many editions, and contains great photographs, market trend information, and identification tips on the various patterns and the glass companies that made them.  Some pricing may be out-of-date on older editions, but the photographs and background info on patterns make these books important and worthwhile to any collector of Depression Glass.

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27 thoughts on “What is Depression Glass?”

  1. Hello David, I’m hoping you might be able to answer my query as I’ve had no luck at all finding the answer anywhere on google. I’m wondering if you can tell me please if the ruby red Cape Cod “Depression” Glass pieces from Avon sold in 1975 as part of the 1876 Cape Cod Collection contain any lead or toxins and are safe to eat/drink from. Looking forward to your reply. Thank you in advance David!

    1. Hi Paula,
      Thank you for your post! The Ruby red “Cape Cod” glassware produced by Wheaton Glass Company for Avon (all of it was made in the 1975-1992 period) does not contain lead, so there is no reason to be concerned about issues of toxicity. I honestly feel this concern is overblown by the media and collectors in general.

      Most non-leaded glass tableware is made of ordinary “Silica-Soda-lime” glass or “container glass” which is the type of glass that nearly all common modern jars, bottles, tableware and window glass is made of. It is inert and safe for consumer use.

      Various elements (such as cobalt for blue, selenium for red, manganese for purple, iron for green, tin or zinc for white milk glass, and many others) are added to the molten glass “batch” in various amounts and percentages to create the infinite range of colors seen in glass.

      Although Wheaton has not revealed the exact formula they used for their red glass, the great majority of modern-era ruby red glass has selenium as the ingredient that causes the red color. (Yes, many years ago red glass was created by adding tiny amounts of gold to the glass batch, but that has not been the case for many decades – selenium is now the “element of choice” for creating shades of red, such as the red glass in traffic lights or red railroad lantern globes and light covers). Notwithstanding that some websites and other sources of info mistakenly repeat the falsity that all red glass is made using gold! (I would imagine that some modern high-end ART GLASS is made with gold, but I don’t know that for a fact).

      In any case, the selenium is an element that is “locked into” the glass so it does not leach out into the food or drink contained in the glass. If, by some chance, an infinitesimal amount of selenium were to go into the food, it would be harmless, as selenium is an element required by the human body, and is in fact one of the many “nutritional supplements” sold in stores today.

      I would not be in the least concerned with eating or drinking from that glassware. Another minor point: the Cape Cod pattern is not “Depression glass” or even “depression style” glass. That’s another catchall term that is bandied about rather loosely by online sellers and even some collectors – Depression glass was made in the 1920s to early 1940s. A lot of “Depression style” reproduction glassware was produced in the US in the 1970s and 1980s. And I presume some is still being produced today – most probably made in Asia.

      If anything, the “CAPE COD” pattern is more reminiscent of some of the tableware patterns popular in the 1860s on up into the early 1900s in the US – glassware collectively known as “Early American Pattern Glass” or EAPG.
      In particular the pattern is close to some ornate pressed glass patterns produced by the Boston and Sandwich Glass Company, Sandwich, Massachusetts, that operated from 1825 to 1888.

      I know my answer is rather lengthy and gets “into the weeds” but I hope this helps a bit!
      Take care,
      David

      1. Hi David, you are wonderful! Thank you so much for all that information and don’t apologise about it being a lengthy message – I’m so grateful and the more information the better!! You’ve taught me more in your one post than what I’ve found out on my many, many searches on google. I’m so glad that I came upon your website and I cannot thank you enough! I can now continue in my search for Avon Ruby Cape Cod items and purchase with ease (there’s a limited few I’ve found on some local selling platforms here in Australia and I’ve found some on EBay, Etsy etc). Much thanks David 🙏”
        All the very best and wishing you a very merry Christmas!
        Kind regards
        Paula

  2. Good day David,

    Thank you for such an interesting article and the resources for Depression Glass. New collector here and had been wondering if you know if the Cambridge Glass Cleo Blue pattern is safe to use or should be kept only as a collectible item that could be only looked at? Thank you!

    1. Hi Sofia,
      Nearly all Depression era glass tableware was made of common, typical soda-lime glass (also known as soda-lime-silica glass), which nearly always does NOT contain lead. Soda-Lime-silica glass is and was used for most common bottles and containers, as well as tableware and window glass. It is perfectly safe. Different colors of glass was achieved by adding tiny amounts of various elements to the glass batch. Most (not all) light green Depression-era glass contained tiny amounts of uranium, which poses no danger in ordinary use. (The uranium is “locked into” the glass and doesn’t easily leach out).

      The light blue glass made by Cambridge might have been made with a very small quantity of cobalt or some other element added to the mix, in order to create that particular color result. I don’t know exactly what ingredient was used to achieve that particular color glass. (A large number of elements and in varying proportions were used to create a myriad of possible color shades and tints by various glassmakers).

      Don’t give it another thought. It is primarily leaded glassware (“flint glass” or “Crystal” – that contains lead which greatly adds to the sparkle and brilliancy of the glassware) – that gets most of the bad press, not soda-lime glass.

      Hope this helps,
      David

  3. Hi David … I am new to collecting depression glass…. I was wondering what pattern was made in the most colors. I would like to collect the same pattern with each color. Thank you for your time.

    1. Hello John, and I’m sorry for being so late with my reply to your post.

      First of all, I won’t pretend to be an expert on Depression Glass patterns and the colors in which they are found. But by perusing one of the editions of “Collector’s Encyclopedia of Depression Glass” by Gene Florence, and noting some of his lists of colors for the patterns, here is a very general look at your question. There have been hundreds of patterns made that might qualify as “Depression Glass” and Florence includes some of the more well-known and collected patterns.

      Most patterns he listed were probably made in a range of 3 to seven or eight colors. A few patterns were made in ten to a dozen colors or more, and here is a brief rundown of those patterns:
      Addie (10 colors)
      Amelia (12)
      Beaded Block (at least 10)
      English Hobnail (12)
      Floral or Poinsettia (10)
      Lincoln Inn (11)
      Moondrops (13)
      Ovide (many, many “fired-on” colors over white)
      Reeded or Spun (11)
      Ring or Banded Ring, by Hocking Glass Co. (12)
      Rock Crystal by McKee Glass Co. (17 or more)

      (I assume it is possible other unlisted colors may be known besides what he has listed, but this is just for a basic overview!)

      In addition, I’d suggest you obtain a copy (or copies) of some of his books of Depression glass (and the landmark reference books by Hazel Marie Weatherman that include a lot of detail, and early advertisements) to get a better idea on what pattern or patterns you personally find most interesting or attractive, since design tastes vary widely. And please keep in mind that in some cases a particular color in a certain pattern may be rather common and easy to find, but another color or colors in that same pattern might be Extremely rare or almost impossible to find. You could also do some searching online with some of these pattern names and see if any of them “jump out at you”!

      Hope this will be useful!! Thanks for writing,
      David

  4. Regarding your asking for the identification of “Modernistic” pattern by Westmoreland Glass Company, possibly a cheese stand. I have a different piece of the same pattern. It is an amber pedestal covered oval dish. I couldn’t find anything about it except that you have a different piece of the same pattern.

  5. I have a 9 inch tall hobnail vase with a silver foil label marked FOREIGN. on bottom, do you know of this item. Thank you, Robin

  6. Does pink Depression glass contain uranium or lead? I inherited a large collection of Windsor Pink by Jeannette and wonder if it’s safe to use. I also have a lot of pink Depression glass in other patterns. I’ve searched the web and can’t seem to find a definitive answer to this question. Thanks.

    1. Hi Rena,
      Yes, it is safe to use. Pink depression glass, as a rule, did not use uranium or lead in the formula. Uranium was used for certain yellow green and ‘vaseline’ green/yellow colors, and lead was used to make glass more brilliant (upscale “crystal”) but these have little to do with the ordinary pink colored glass that was made rather cheaply, in large quantities, during the late 1920s into the early 1940s. Of course, it is always possible that a VERY VERY small trace of either element could have been present because of cullet, or leftover traces from a previous glass batch in the furnace, but the chances are virtually non-existent that it would be harmful.
      Hope this helps,
      David

      1. Hi David, are clear and light blue depression glass also generally free of lead and uranium? I’m specifically interested in Anchor Bubble and Miss America in clear and light (sky) blue. Thanks!

        1. Hi Ryan,

          Lead was only added to the “batch” when producing the more expensive, highly refractive “Crystal” or “Flint” glass, and was not used in common, machine-made, inexpensive pressed glass made during the Depression era. Uranium was used by most companies in making the light green glass. So, yes, Depression glass in light blue or clear are typically free of lead and uranium.

          There is always a very slight chance there could have been minute traces of lead in some of the cullet (broken recycled glass) used in the manufacturing process, but any slight traces would be so miniscule it would be of absolutely no concern. Keep in mind that most of the common patterns of Depression glass was made as cheaply as possible. Intentionally adding lead would have increased the cost of production.

          In my opinion Depression glass can be actively used in the kitchen / dining room as well as being collected. Eating, drinking or serving out of old glassware is fun, attractive and enjoyable. Some collectors would disagree, because they are afraid they might accidentally break something, so this is just my own opinion!

          Hope this helps!
          David

  7. I have some green depression glass items that do not glow under a UV lamp. Does this mean that they are not true depression glass pieces, possibly modern copies?

    1. Greg,
      I have heard there are some authentic green Depression pieces that do NOT glow under blacklight, and presumably that’s because the glass “recipe” used was slightly different, i.e. not containing uranium, yet resulting in a comparable green colored glass. I don’t know what pieces or patterns would fall under that heading. I’m sorry but I can’t say with certainty about what you have. Reproductions of Depression glass have been made since at least the late 1970s or early 1980s. If you haven’t already, check various editions of the depression glass books by Gene Florence, in which he briefly discusses some of the known reproductions out there. Also, some sellers on ebay are honest about the age of their items in their descriptions, so you might try searching auctions there with the keywords “Reproduction” and “Depression glass” to see a sampling of newer “depression style” glass being sold today in various patterns.
      ~David

      1. Thanks for your input David. I’m off to the local Library in a day or two so i’ll see if I can get a copy or two of any relevant Gene Florence books. Cheers!

    1. Anne, the term “Vaseline Glass” has several meanings but the most common definition that most collectors would agree with is referring to a glass which is yellow to yellowish-green in color and glows bright green (that is, a stronger “glowing” yellow-green) under a blacklight because of URANIUM in the glass formula. Vaseline glass (especially that made in the 1880s) was often called “Canary”.

      “Depression Glass” is a very general term that means glassware, usually mass-produced and relatively inexpensive, that was made in large quantity during the late 1920s through the 1930s. One of the most common colors of Depression-era glass is a light to medium green, which often does contain a very small amount of Uranium, just enough to cause that type of glass to glow under a blacklight as well. HOWEVER, green-colored Depression glass is NOT “VASELINE”. They are two different types of glass. I hope this explains it. ~David

  8. My mother Hazel Marie Weatherman researched and wrote the first book on Depression glass, traveling to almost all the glass companies mentioned here, meticulously identifying an compiling thousands of patterns and pieces. She published the annual Price Guides and the comprehensive Colored Glassware of the Depression Era, Book 2 (Glassbooks, 1969,1972). She appeared on the Walter Kronkite Evening News and in Newsweek magazine, both of which credited her with starting the collecting craze of the 70’s.

    1. Hi Annette, and thanks a lot for your information! Those books are indeed classics, and a sampling of reader reviews posted on internet bookseller sites are overwhelmingly positive…….a great labor of love, and very painstakingly done with tons of background information and photographs. Obviously, a tremendous amount of time and effort was poured into them! I will insert a paragraph in my main text mentioning those books! Take care,
      ~David

      1. Hi, the green unidentifiable item at the top of the page is Westmoreland “Modernistic” and is likely a cheese stand, should be a bottom plate for it. Pretty distinct but not very usual pattern.

        1. Hi David,
          Thanks for your information. I am assuming it is definitely not a common pattern. I see there is a Hazel-Atlas pattern mentioned in Gene Florence’s books on depression glass which is sometimes known as “Modernistic”, but that is obviously an unrelated pattern.
          I will add a caption to the picture. Thanks!!
          David

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