- Posts about Oyster and Pearl Depression Glass
- Basic Information about Oyster and Pearl
- Pieces Made
- Prices and Availability
- Reproduction and Damage Concerns
Posts about Oyster and Pearl Depression Glass
I do not have any posts solely about Oyster and Pearl. The ones listed mention the pattern.
Depression Glass Candle Holders from Hocking – Queen Mary, Manhattan, Oyster and Pearl
Ruby Red Glass
Top 10 Reasons to Collect Depression Glass – #5. They Don’t Make This Anymore!
Basic Information about Oyster and Pearl
Hocking Glass made Oyster and Pearl in the waning years of the depression, 1938 to 1940, when the glass pattern styles had changed from delicate appearing mold-etched floral or scroll designs to heavier patterns with bold, geometric motifs. Oyster and Pearl has wide curved ribs that flare from the center with raised dots in the base of the ribs and, in some pieces, larger raised dots at the tips of the ribs. Pieces have scalloped rims.
This candle holder shows the rib and dot pattern well.
Other pieces have the larger dots in the center, surrounded by a circle of small dots as with the relish tray above and the large fruit bowl shown next.
Hocking made Oyster and Pearl in crystal and pink plus several pieces in Royal Ruby and a few in white and white with fired-on green or pink as in the candle holder. Hocking called their white Vitrock.
Pieces of Oyster and Pearl
Hocking made Oyster and Pearl as a serving pattern plus one accessory, a candle holder. There are no pieces one would use for place settings, no cup, saucer, creamer, sugar, dinner or lunch plates, sherbet. Instead we have a small number of attractive, useful shapes that fill in well with dinnerware. The large bowl with the sandwich plate beneath makes a good salad set.
There are 5 bowls, although not all in every color. Pink and crystal have a small heart-shaped, 1-handled nappy/candy dish, a deep 6 inch 2-handled bowl you may find with a metal holder, a 10 1/2 deep salad bowl and a salad bowl with a ruffled edge. Royal Ruby has a 1-handled round bowl similar to the hear-shaped piece, the deep handled bowl and the deep fruit bowl. In Vitrock and the fired-on Vitrock look for the hear-shaped bowl and deep fruit bowl. The heart-shaped piece has a spout so you could use it for gravy or sauces.
The ruffled bowl is just like the large dep fruit bowl with the rim slightly folded over.
There is one serving/sandwich plate that is 13 1/2 inches across. The relish tray is a very good size, 10 1/2 inches not counting the handles and is divided into 2 large sections. (Measure pieces without handles.)
We show the candle holder above in green. Look for it in crystal, pink, plain Vitrock and Vitrock with pink or blue.
Availability and Price
I used (1999 to 2018) to find pink or crystal Oyster and Pearl in antique malls or fairs, plus occasionally estate sales or flea markets. The fired-on Vitrock candle holders and either color relish dish were quite common. You can probably still find pieces at these places if you look.
Checking online there are many listings for Oyster and Pearl in all the colors mentioned. You could easily accumulate the salad set or a pair of candle holders or the cute heart-shaped dish.
Oyster and Pearl is relatively inexpensive, although do be aware that the glass is heavy and shipping can be costly.
Reproductions and Damage Concerns
No one has reproduced or re-issued Oyster and Pearl so do not be concerned with that. However, on eBay just now I noticed quite a few pieces listed as Oyster and Pearl that are actually Burple, also from Anchor Hocking. This bowl is Burple, notice it also has a curved ray and dot motif but it is very different.
eBay has other listings mis-identified as Oyster and Pearl, including Crow’s Foot from Paden City and some from Hazel Atlas. Be careful when buying online to check photos and descriptions.
The only damage I noticed in the pieces we had was one relish dish had tiny nicks on the underside of the inside rim.
Oyster and Pearl is a safe pattern to buy for yourself or gifts. The relish tray and bowls are sturdy, attractive and useful sizes. As always, enjoy your glass!