I just finished a new page on the site featuring green glass from the depression era through the 1970s avocado rage. Rather than duplicate the content on this post, here is a link to the page so you can read it.
Green Glass on Parade – Elegant and Depression Glass
The page shows examples of green glass over time from the depression era on. This neat coaster is depression glass from Hazel Atlas, the Florentine #2 pattern.
Florentine #2 Poppy Green Depression Glass Coaster
Besides all the glorious shades of green we can choose from, glass makers produced wonderful teals, yellows, blues, pinks, reds, ambers, amethyst, black, smoke, brown, white and crystal. Glass companies were in business to help customers set a lovely table and decorate their homes with stylish pieces. That’s why they made different colors as styles changed.
If we look at every color we can see how the companies’ glass colorants evolved to fit the changing styles. Let’s take white glass.
MacBeth Evans developed white monax translucent glass in the depression. I’ve written about monax many times, most recently this blog post about American Sweetheart.
Later, Corning bought out MacBeth Evans and their white glass during the 1950s was similar to monax except a little thicker and less translucent. We’re all familiar with Corning ware and Pyrex dinnerware! But have you noticed how the older Pyrex dinnerware is thick and barely translucent? Modern Corning ware is thinner, translucent and decorated in stylish patterns.
During the 1960s and 70s milk glass was HOT. Fenton began making Hobnail white milk glass in the late 1940s, and it quickly became their bread and butter product. Westmoreland made Beaded Edge and Paneled Grape, both in milk glass. Both Fenton and Westmoreland’s white glass was opaque, shiny and pure white.
Anchor Hocking made many Fire King lines that used white glass as the base and added decorations. Their white glass was more translucent than Fenton’s or Westmoreland’s and was in fact meant for use in the oven.
You can find similar stories of evolution and changing colors to fit changing styles and preferences in home decor. Glass closely aligns with American tastes in dinnerware, kitchenware and decorative accessories.