Somehow Columbia depression glass from Federal rarely made it into this blog even though I had many pieces of it once upon a time. Columbia is a big, bold pattern, usually crystal, and square-ish shapes. The lines in the rim are formed of circles scooped out of the glass as is the row of circles around the centers.
Columbia makes quite a statement in table settings; the clear glass catches the light and sparkles and the intriguing shapes and style give it presence. Federal made plates and saucers in pink but I have never seen it while the crystal was fairly easy to find in mid-Michigan. (One thing about crystal depression glass is that it often slips through without people realizing it is depression ware and sometimes buyers can get bargains.) I got most of my pieces at an auction, later picked up more at the local flea market.
The big plate shown above is a “chop plate”, we would consider it a serving plate or small square platter today. This is the only piece I had which had any damage as there is a small nick in the rim. Otherwise Columbia doesn’t seem particularly prone to damage. The pattern is busy enough that your eye will skip over light wear and there is no optic to rub and the the little circles are indents, not beads that wear.
Columbia is one pattern with both a cereal and a soup bowl. The soup is quite large, about 8 inches across, square-ish and shallow, coupe shape/no rim. To me it looks more suitable as a serving dish than to eat soup.
The cereal bowl is pretty small, only 5 inches across. Sometimes the sizing in depression ware seems odd to our eyes but apparently people accepted this size, likely for salads or fruit in addition to cereal.
One piece we had that was not actually part of Columbia pattern, but a go with, is this interesting small plate. This looks like it fits the pattern and Federal made it so the glass and styling are similar. Notice the beads on the wing shapes.
Columbia includes a true snack plate which has the same wings with circles as my go-with. It is shaped differently though and has a design in the base which mine lacks.
I don’t have any tumblers nor the cup and saucer set to show. The tumblers have two rows of small beads along the base. The cup looks much like the cereal bowl shown above. Columbia includes two serving bowls, one with ruffled rim, and a butter dish to complete a table setting for dinner. There are no decorative pieces such as candle holders or candy dishes; Columbia is a dinnerware pattern.
If you enjoy the big bold styling of this pattern from the late depression years then look for Columbia crystal depression glass.