I’m glad to help people find their depression glass or etched patterns when I can. Here are 5 tips to ask for help.
- Photograph design
- Get clear photos against plain backgrounds
- Describe the color if it’s not obvious in the photo and dimensions.
- Post on our Facebook page or send me messages via Facebook instead.
- Please and thank you are still magic words.
For valuation I recommend you research eBay completed sales and Replacements.com plus glass reference books to get an idea of value. Please note that I am unable to provide valuations. If I can’t help you identify your glass then you might try Replacements pattern identification service or search eBay using words that describe what you have.
Photographing Glass
Photograph your whole piece looking straight on. This is to help show the overall shape.
Look at your piece and see where it may have a design detail. For example, if it’s a goblet maybe the bowl has an interesting curve. Or the stem has little nubs running up its length. Some bowls or plates have molded designs or little wafers around the base. Photograph each of these details.
Get clear photos of any designs, etches or cuttings. Show up close if possible as well as getting pictures of the entire design.
Use a plain, dark background especially with pattern details. Some people try using lace or patterned tablecloths and it’s impossible to see what design is on the glass and not on the background. It sometimes is easiest to photograph stemware looking down into the bowl.
Here is an example of a piece I was able to identify. This first photo is the etch itself. The lady who sent me these used Facebook messages and originally the format chopped off the birds on the edges. It is a good pattern photo, nice and clear.
I knew I had seen this before but couldn’t quite recall. She then sent a picture of the piece itself. This time it was immediately clear she had a Paden City topaz mayo bowl, which then helped me remember the pattern, Gothic Garden.
We even have a piece of this ourselves!
