We are looking at pink American Sweetheart for its collecting fun. This pink depression glass has a lot going for it:
It’s never been reproduced. This makes it safe for novices and experienced collectors, no need to wonder whether you have a fake.
It is beautiful. We covered this in our last post here. MacBeth Evans used thin glass in a lovely, light shade of pink for this gorgeous mold etched swags and scrolls centered on panels.
It is glass you can enjoy and use. Whether you have a small luncheon or dessert set, or a creamer and sugar, or maybe a serving bowl, pink American Sweetheart will look great on your table. Each piece has a story that you can share with your friends.
Today let’s look at #3 on our collecting fun scale, the pieces available.
#3 The Manufacturer Made MMny Interesting Pieces
There are not a huge number of pieces in this pattern. There is no butter dish, vase, comport, center handled server, candle holder, candy dish or cookie jar, which is odd since MacBeth Evans made American Sweetheart for 6 years, one of the longer lasting patterns. I suspect they marketed this as dinnerware or luncheon service and didn’t try to compete with decorative accessory pieces.
Pink is a full pattern. MacBeth Evans made almost every piece in pink, apparently missing only the 18 inch console bowl, lunch plate, the larger dinner plate, two large serving plates and the sugar lid. That leaves you many pieces to find.
You might like to look for the pitcher, where you have two choices, holding 60 ounces or 80 ounces. These look lovely in pictures – I have never seen one – round body with a graceful ice lip and an applied ridged handle. The design goes partway up the side.
There are several sizes of tumblers – which are missing in Monax – and these would be great for table use. The pattern is softer on the tumblers, not as crisp, and the rims are slightly flared and rounded to make them pleasant to use.
Pink plates are different from the in Monax translucent white American Sweetheart. Monax includes multiple sizes and styles of luncheon and dinner plates; some have noticeable rims with the design and plain centers while others have designs on the center and not such a definite rim. Pink plates all have the design in the center and on the rim. I am not aware of any pink plates that have plain centers.
This photo from a depression glass show has American Sweetheart plates on the right. See what I meant about rims and designs in the center.
As part of our series we’re scoring each pattern on the 7 points that make up my collecting fun quotient. (To refresh, they are: 1) You like, 2) you will enjoy, 3) there are fun pieces, 4) you can find some pieces easily, 5) you need to hunt for a few pieces, 6) pattern isn’t damage-prone and 7) you can afford it.
So far we ranked American Sweetheart a 10 for #1 and #2. I think, given the absence of some nifty pieces like candy jars we should give this beautiful pattern a little lower score for #3. Tumblers and bowls are great pieces but it’s even more fun when you can get a candle holder or two. How about we rank this a 7?
As always, let me know your thoughts in the comments or on our Facebook page at www.DepressionGlassFun.com.