About Red Depression Glass
Vintage Depression glass draws collectors with its wide range of colors and its affordability. Although yellow and amber were the most common colors, certain types of red Depression glass were produced well into the 1960s. Red Depression glass is highly collectible, with certain rare pieces selling for thousands of dollars.
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History
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From the mid-1920s through the Great Depression and the end of World War II, glass companies mass-produced inexpensive glassware using molds. Cereal and soap companies often included these pieces along with their products as a marketing tool. Local movie theaters hosted dish nights to give away a different piece of Depression glass each week.
Identification
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Depression glass is relatively easy to identify. Manufacturers included Hocking, MacBeth-Evans, Federal and Jeannette. Because these pieces were machine-made and not finished by hand, they often have visible flaws such as bubbles, color variations, mold marks and seams. Red Depression glass is transparent, ranging in color from dark amber to deep crimson. Red Depression glass with an orange tint is sometimes referred to as Amberina. Hocking (now Anchor Hocking) produced vast quantities in a shade it patented as Royal Ruby Red.
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Types
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Vessel shapes include drinking glasses, goblets, bowls and candlesticks. Anchor Hocking began making its Royal Ruby Red glass pieces in the 1930s, and they were so popular that production continued into the 1960s. Other companies made similar red glassware under different names and in different patterns. Many of the later pieces of red glass tended to have simpler silhouettes with fewer ornate details.
Availability
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Depression glass was produced in tremendous quantities and was widely distributed. Many pieces are quite easy to find today through antique stores, Internet auction sites or even garage sales. Two of the most commonly available patterns for red Depression glass are from Anchor Hocking's Bubble and Charm patterns.
Value
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Originally, some pieces sold for as little as 14 cents or were given away with other products. Rare pieces are worth hundreds or even thousands of dollars today. Ruby Red Aladdin Beehive lamps produced in 1937 can sell for between $700 and $950, as of March 2010, with darker pieces worth more than light red ones. Collectors have paid more than $2,000 at auctions for Cambridge Glass Co.'s Ruby Flower Center Flying Lady bowls in mint condition.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit brown vase image by Olga Sapegina from Fotolia.com
