We finished our series on American Sweetheart depression glass, looking at the pattern for its Collecting Fun Quotient and now turn to Adam’s Rib. To refresh, our Collecting Fun Quotient is our non-scientific, completely subjective way to view a pattern for its overall appeal, the variety of pieces, how easy pieces are to find and how costly, and how durable.
Let’s look at our first 2 criteria, beautiful and enjoyable to own and use.
Beautiful Design
Diamond Glass made Adam’s Rib, line number 900 around 1925 in a rainbow of colors including a beautiful shade of blue, green, amber, pink, some iridescent colors and likely many more. It is a beautiful pattern yet very simple. The design features rounded, rather narrow vertical ribs surmounted with a plain, smooth band . Tumblers, candy jars, creamers, cups and saucers have round, smooth domed feet.
Adam’s Rib has lovely shapes, gently curved, that go beautifully with the geometric ribs. Colors are exquisite and blend with each other very well and also with other depression glass patterns. Plus the quality is several notches above most depression patterns, to me it is on par with Paden City or New Martinsville albeit still mass-produced.
Enjoyable to Own and Use
Given the variety of pieces you are certain to find one that appeals to you that you could use frequently. All the pieces we have had were decorative accessories – candy jar, center handled server, console bowl and candle holders – which means you could easily use them on a daily basis or get out for special events. Diamond Glass made a luncheon set too, with cup and saucer, lunch plate, sherbets, creamer and sugar, so you could assemble a small set for serving dessert of lunch.
If I were collecting Adam’s Rib I’d look for pieces in any color and mix them. They harmonize and look grand together, plus that would be easier than trying to restrict to a single color. (Not to mention it is hard to pick just one favorite color!) I like how pieces work together and with other patterns.
The last factor in Enjoyment criterion is that we don’t have much documentation on this pattern. There is one book on Diamond/Dugan glassware which covers Adam’s Rib and Gene Florence included the pattern in his last 2 editions of the Collector’s Encyclopedia of Depression Glass. Florence mentioned that more people were interested in Adam’s Rib and that collectors were likely to find pieces at antique malls. I agree with this as I’ve seen several pieces at antique shows, never identified by name, listed and priced as nicer depression glass.
Collecting Fun Quotient Score So Far
I would give Adam’s Rib an 8 for Beauty because I like it immensely but still prefer the mold etched designs like Cameo. You are welcome to disagree! And give it a 9 for Enjoyable because I can imagine owning and using all the pieces we’ve seen so far.
Next post we’ll look at availability. Ideally you want your pattern to have a few pieces you can find without too much effort, since it’s no fun to hunt and hunt forever without success, and to have several pieces that are difficult to get because that keeps the antiquing fun going!