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Depression-era glassware first came on the scene at the Pittsburgh glass exhibit in 1925. Until then, all glassware was either crystal or colorless glass. Depression-era glassware offered a wide variety of colors, such as pink, green, blue, red and amber.
Depression-era glassware was mass produced and was often given away as a premium at movie theaters, gas stations and grocery stores for purchasing a certain dollar amount or items such as soap or oatmeal. Women during the Depression oftentimes made sure their purchases included items that offered this glassware to build their families' collections.
Depression-era glassware is so called because it was manufactured during the Depression and also because of the depressed areas forming patterns around the glass. - Depression-era glassware is made from mostly silica, soda ash and limestone. The addition of various minerals gave the glassware its colors. For example, the addition of chromium or copper created blue glass, the addition of selenium produced a yellow or pink glass, and the addition of iron created either a yellow or a green glass.
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Depression-era glassware was mass produced and is often of poor quality. It usually contains air bubbles or other flaws in the glass. It comes in many widely collected patterns, such as American sweetheart, bubble, holiday and old colony.
It has often been reproduced, so you need to be sure you are looking at originals if you are collecting depression era glassware.
Originals are rarely found in mint condition. The glassware was used on a daily basis as families' primary glassware. The hardest color to find is the cobalt blue. -
There were three periods from 1923 to 1939 in which Depression-era glass was made. During that time, 92 different patterns were produced.
The first 5 years (1925-1930) were the experimental period. The first pattern, Avocado, was created in 1923 and came in green, pink, white milk glass and crystal. This patterns was produced for 11 years.
The second 5-year period (1930-1934) introduced 40 new patterns of Depression-era glass. During this period, mold-etching of the glassware was introduced. American Sweetheart was produced during this era.
The final 5 years (1935-1939) introduced 29 new patterns. It was also the end of mold-etching. The glassware returned to more basic patterns, and darker colors were introduced to cover the flaws in the glassware. - Depression-era glassware is now a collectors' item for over 10,000 enthusiasts. The glassware started out as a functional way to brighten the lives of families in the Depression by offering it as a gift with purchase. The colors and patterns offered variety in the dull days of the Depression. Families began purchasing it and even planning shopping trips around when it was offered at grocery stores and gas stations. It was more then just a free cup; it was an attractive piece of merchandise that made otherwise sparse homes come alive.
