Depression Glass – Hope For A Nation
The year was 1932. Eleanor was a young mother living through the Great Depression. Unlike many who had lost their jobs, Eleanor’s husband Bill was still employed, although his pay was drastically reduced. With three small children to raise, the couple managed with what little they had. In a time when the world seemed very dark and hopeless, people like Eleanor and Bill looked for a little something to remind them of better times and bring cheer into their dreary days. Was it any wonder then, that the mass-produced glassware now known as Depression glass was so popular? From the 1920’s until the early 1940’s, manufacturers like Anchor Hocking, Federal, Jeannette, and Imperial Glass - more than twenty companies who produced over 100 patterns, many of which consisted of entire dinner sets and matching accessories. Even the names of the patterns reminded customers of better, happier times. Names like Mayfair, American Sweetheart, Princess, Royal Lace, Cameo. There were any number of ways to collect the glass. The local “five-and-dime” shops offered pieces at about the same price as a loaf of bread. Many companies gave away the popular and attractive glass – Quaker offered it in a box of oats; theatres, restaurants and gas stations gave the glass away as thanks to those customers who patronized their businesses. Although the glass was cheap and relatively poor quality, it came in the most beautiful colors and patterns. Pastels in various shades of yellow, green, pink, blue, and amber. Intricate designs that not only brightened peoples’ homes and lives, but also managed to hide the flaws commonly found. Flaws because the molds that produced the glass didn’t last long and glass accumulated around the edges as the mold got older. Sometimes the mold the glass was poured into didn't fill out completely. Other times, the straw that held the hot glass until it cooled would leave an indentation, called a "straw mark" in the glass. American glass production began in New England and gradually moved south and west. Often companies were bought, sold, merged, or were destroyed by fire. Production evolved with the favorites being continually manufactured and the less popular lines being discontinued. When World War II broke out, the raw materials used to produce color were needed for military use. The color that had brightened so many lives was no longer available until after the war. The beauty and variety of Depression glass has earned it a number of admiring collectors over the years. Unlike some collectibles, value is dependent on demand, not just rarity. If because of breakage there are few pieces of a pattern to form a collection, there is little demand, thus less value. Most people collect all the pieces of a pattern, some get a single example of every pattern they like or that was made by a specific company. Many others collect just one type in as many patterns as possible, such as candlesticks, or sets of sugars and creamers, or vases, or goblets. Some collectors only pick certain colors or one of every color. There are people who collect by theme, manufacturer, or series – such as all the Christmas plates ever made. Still others will only buy signed pieces. Since the days when Eleanor and Bill raised their young family, glass collecting has become one of America’s favorite hobbies. Most collectors not only display the beautiful pieces of Depression glass, they use them on their tables, gaining the same satisfaction as did those families of years ago. |
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