Here’s the thing with these two patterns: Hocking Glass made both Old Cafe and Fortune in the same colors, pink and crystal, and about the same time period. Add the fact the patterns look very similar and you have an identity crisis!
Here is Fortune, a very small pattern with only a few pieces. This one is the small berry bowl, about 4 inches across.
Here is Old Cafe. See how similar they are?
Tips to tell Fortune from Old Cafe
- Fortune is pointy. The ribs are more pointed along the center of the rib and the top edge of bowls or the outside rims on plates feel pointy. Old Cafe is smoother with rounded panels, less rib-like and more rounded, scallop-y edges.
Fortune Close Up
Old Cafe olive dish to show the rim:
- Fortune has one skinny rib between one wide rib that is formed from two panels that come together to form a rib. Old Cafe has two narrow panels between one wider panels.
It’s odd that Hocking made so many bowls and tumblers in these patterns since many other patterns are a bit light on the bowl and tumbler parade. My book, Collector’s Encyclopedia of Depression Glass, 19th Edition, lists an even dozen Fortune pieces, with five bowls and two tumblers. The other pieces include two plates, a cup, saucer, lidded candy dish, but no creamer, no sugar, no serving pieces other than a rather scarce bowl that’s 7 3/4 inches wide.
Old Cafe is a bigger pattern with 20 pieces and also has five bowls, two tumblers and a dearth of serving pieces other than a bowl. No creamer, no sugar in Old Cafe, but you will find a vase, candy jar (the base is pictured above), lamp and olive dish. It is an odd combination for sure.
What tips do you have to tell these two sister patterns apart?