Avoid Reproduction Pink Depression Glass – Collecting Fun

Have you ever gotten reproduction depression glass when you expected the real thing?  I have.  It is disappointing to say the least.

Pink Cherry Blossom is one of the most beautiful depression glass patterns and it is also the most reproduced.  You can learn tell-tales for most pieces that help you select only real, authentic 1930s-produced glassware but some pieces are darn hard to be certain.

Cherry Blossom Fake Juice Tumbler – Check for 3 Rows of Narrow Ridges Near Top

I bought a huge amount of glass from an avid collector who had boxes of Cherry Blossom, yet even she and I (I wasn’t much help back then) and our trusty reference guides weren’t sure of a few pieces.  Now that I see them after 15 years I do think they are fakes, but when even an honest, knowledgeable collector can’t tell, it’s a bad situation.

The most reliable way to avoid getting stung by reproductions is to avoid purchasing certain patterns, instead choose glass that has never been reproduced.  (I base my “never reproduced” comment on books by real experts.  Right now there isn’t much money in glass so the repro artists aren’t likely issuing new fakes.)

This post starts a new series, looking at individual patterns that are safe to collect – no reproduction worries – and evaluates them for collecting fun.  This is completely subjective!  My thoughts on collectible fun are:

1. You like the pattern and want to own pieces.
2. You will enjoy having it and will use the glass.
3. The manufacturer made many interesting pieces.  It’s not as much fun collecting something that has only a few pieces.
4. You will find some pieces quite easily.  Ideally you want to get a piece or two that you can use right away, maybe a few dessert plates, or tumblers, creamer and sugar, serving dish or candy jar.
5. You will have to hunt for most pieces.  This gives you lots of reasons to go antiquing or stop at flea markets and estate sales.  Fun with a purpose!
6. The pattern isn’t unusually prone to damage or known for rough seams.
7. You can afford it.  More or less.  I wouldn’t advise subsisting on peanut butter sandwiches just to buy Block Optic, but if you think of glass and antiquing as fun hobbies, then don’t hesitate to spend what you can afford.

Here are 10 pink depression glass patterns that don’t have reproductions and fit the 7 criteria above.  I’ll go through each of then in separate posts and share my opinions of their collecting fun quotient

• American Sweetheart
• 

American Sweetheart Pink Depression Glass Big Fruit Bowl

• Adam’s Rib

Adams Rib Pink Depression Glass Candy Jar

• Old Colony

Old Colony Pink Depression Glass Relish Tray

• Dogwood

Dogwood Pink Depression Glass

• Block Optic

Block Optic Pink Depression Glass 6 Inch Sherbet Plate

• Doric

Doric Pink Depression Glass Candy Jar

• Normandie

Normandie Pink Depression Glass Cup

• Swirl (Jeannette Swirl)

Swirl Pink 5 Inch Berry Bowl with Scalloped Rim

• Windsor

Windsor Pink Depression Glass Tumbler Water Glass

Note, there are many other pink depression patterns with no reproductions, but I like these!  Floral (Poinsettia), Florentine 1 and 2 and Princess are beautiful patterns with only one or a few reproduced pieces, but let’s stick with these for now.