Impressions of the Depression: The Art of Collecting Depression Glass
Depression Glass is known for being one of the most popular
collector’s items in the world.
Not only is the glassware beautiful and timeless, but it truly
represents an important part of American history. What began as a promotional item, mostly found in cereal and
oatmeal boxes, has become a sought after item by antique enthusiasts and
collectors everywhere. Whether you
are interested in collecting Depression Glass with the intention of reselling
it, displaying it in your home as a lovely decoration, or putting it to use as
your kitchen glassware, Depression Glass makes for an elegant and interesting
investment. Before you begin your
collection, it is a good idea to know a little bit about the glass, its
history, and how to maintain and care for your growing collection.
The Colors of Depression Glass
Amber
Yellow
Pink
Green
Blue
Clear Crystal
The Seven Main Depression Glass Manufacturing Companies
Indiana Glass
Hocking Glass
Federal Glass
US Glass
Jeanette Glass
MacBeth Evans Glass
Hazel-Atlas Glass.
The History of Depression Glass
(courtesy of http://www.depressionglasssecrets.com/DPweb-articles/what-depression-glass.html)
Despite the name, “Depression Glass” actually made its debut
in the mid-1920s before the Great Depression of 1929 began, with some patterns
still being produced as far along as the 1950s, did you know that?
However, glass companies produced the bulk – much of it by
the trainloads – of this particular type of glass during the height of the
Great Depression, hence its name.
Most people equate Depression Glass with the “prizes” found
in boxes of oatmeal many years ago. And, yes, it was found in oatmeal. The
Quaker Oats cereal company literally saved one glass company from going
bankrupt by ordering several boxcar loads of the product during a particularly
lean time during the Depression years.
But this type of glass not only found its way into American
life through oatmeal boxes.
Movie houses gave it away to lure customers in on sluggish
nights, gas stations offered it as a reward to patrons frequenting their
businesses, and even restaurants used this eye-catching and inexpensive glass
to cement relations between new customers as well as their regulars.
But most of the Depression Glass sold no doubt came from the
numerous so-called “five-and-dime” shops that abounded at the time – where
housewives could buy much of their basic day-to-day necessities at low prices,
somewhat like the precursors to today’s Wal-Mart and Target giant discount
stores.
The pretty pastel colors of Depression Glass like its blues,
greens, pinks and yellows, and its often-intricate patterns appealed to many
people then, just as they do now. The various shades of yellows, greens, pinks,
blues, and ambers, along with the designs, not only brightened a home, but also
served to hide the flaws inherent in this attractive, yet cheaply made
Depression Glass.
Some manufacturers produced Depression Glass made with clear
glass to, among other reasons, “enable revelers to see the bubbling exuberance
of their champagne on New Year’s Eve.” Of course, the patterns of these
colorless pieces also hid major flaws. And although clear Depression glass had
its appeal, most people preferred the colorful pieces to not only decorate
their homes, but to use – often on a daily basis - I know that I prefer the
colored glass.
Today, the flaws made in Depression Glass from mold marks
and air bubbles help constitute its authenticity, so don’t make the mistake of
discounting the value of this highly collectible glass because of that! Although
not every piece of authentic Depression Glass carries these manufacturing
flaws, reproductions don’t.
The mass production techniques – new at the time – involved
in producing Depression Glass caused the flaws we look for today in
authenticating the glass. Back in the days when glass producers made Depression
Glass, the molds in which it was produced did not last long, causing the glass
to accumulate around the edges as the mold got older with use. “Straw-mark”
ripples, most often found on the bottom of the pieces, occurred because of
these older molds and those, along with air bubbles in the glass, hallmark a
true piece of Depression Glass more than any other characteristic. Some
manufacturers took to grinding the bases to reduce this fault.
Now that you know what Depression Glass is and a little
about its characteristics and appeal, why not start your own collection? As
with every type of collecting, the more you know, the better equipped you
become to get what you want.
Caring For Your Depression Glass
- It is needless to say that breakage is the most common
fatality of antique Depression Glass.
Keep your Depression Glass out of harm’s way by not displaying it in a
heavily travelled area of the house and avoiding showcasing your collection
anywhere that your guests may bump into it, especially if it is displayed in a
high place. When carrying your
Depression Glass, make sure to hold it with both hands. This isn’t an ordinary piece of
Depression Glass you picked up at K-mart – it is a piece of history frozen in
time, carefully chosen by you!
Care for it as if it were 70 years old (because it probably is!).
- Lift pieces by the heaviest part – not the spout or
handle. Also, remember to remove
any lids, tops, or stopper when carrying.
- When washing your Depression Glass, do so by hand and one
at a time. A good trick to ensure
that your Depression Glass will stay out of harms way (because sometimes the
sink can be a dangerous place for delicate pieces) is to fill a plastic bowl
with warm soapy water to wash the item.
This protects it from the hard stainless steel sink should it slip out
of your hand. You may use a soft
bristled brush to remove stubborn particles. If you must wash it in the dishwasher – which I highly
recommend that your do NOT – make sure that the pieces are separated. If they are touching one another, the
swirling water may cause them to bump into each other, causing breakage.
- To avoid soap-scum, add two tablespoons of white vinegar to
the rinse water. If you find water
stains or mineral deposits on your Depression Glass, try soaking pieces in
denture cleaning solution overnight.
Heavy cloudiness may require a visit to the conservator.
- When drying your Depression Glass, dry each piece carefully
and one at a time with a lint free cloth.
- It’s a good possibility that you will break a piece of
your collection at least once in the future. If the piece isn’t shattered, you can always glue it back
together! This can be a
painstaking and tedious job but if you do it the right way, it can save your
broken antique. After multiple
washes and over time, glue discolors.
It can go from barely-there to a dingy yellowish color that can ruin the
appearance of your antique. Most
dealers and conservators recommend Hxtal adhesive to avoid discoloration and
for creating a strong, lasting bond.
When gluing back together, set the pieces out on a table or flat surface
so that they fit together, apply adhesive to your piece of broken Depression
Glass, and carefully and slowly reassemble your piece. You can use tape to keep the small
pieces together ones you have glued them back together. After 72 hours
(minimum) of drying, remove the tape and your Depression Glass is safe for use.
- When storing your Depression Glass, make sure that it is
free of all moisture. Leaving
droplets of water on your glass can cause unsightly “crizzling” that will ruin
its appearance. Remove all lids,
stoppers, and tops and separate each piece with a soft cloth or piece of fabric
to prevent scratching or breaking and to preserve your Depression Glass.
- The best way to protect your Depression Glass is to
digitize your collection on iTaggit.
In the event of a natural disaster and any type of accident, iTaggit
provides a quick and easy option for printing out insurance claim reports for
your items. If you decide to sell
any of your pieces, iTaggit offers one click exporting to eBay.com, oodle.com,
craigslist.org, or you can list your item in iTaggit’s nationally syndicated
classifieds section!
