Posts about Crackle Depression Glass
Crackle Depression Glass – Make Your Drinks Look Cold
Several companies, notably L E Smith and McKee, made depression glass with molded-in lines that resembled crackle glass, meant to mimic the look of iced drinks. Remember back in the 1930s not everyone had a refrigerator and it was uncommon to use ice lavishly the way we do today. Companies made many pieces, including tumblers and pitchers, bowls, plates, candy jars, in the usual depression era colors. The crystal footed mayonnaise bowl shown above is from McKee and is typical.
While you could find some luncheon ware pieces – plates, a cup, small bowl – most pieces are either for serving drinks or decoration.
Look for pitchers, tumblers, cocktail shakers and bottles, candle holders, candy boxes, comports, vases. Companies made some pieces in typical colors of the depression, amber, green, pink, so on, although crystal may be the most common.
L E Smith made several pieces in pattern called By Cracky which are quite distinctive. Most plates are octagonal. The sherbet snack set has three indents, one for the sherbet and the other two to hold yummies.
Be aware that there are two types of crackle glass. One is the like the mayo set shown just below where the lines are molded in. The glass is solid with no hairline cracks.
The other type is true cracked glass made by cooling hot glassware under controlled, fairly rapid conditions. Notice the lines in this pitcher are less definite than the McKee mayo above. This pitcher is from approximately the depression era judging by the style with a lid and it is true crackle glass.
Companies such as Blenko produce true crackle glass today, mostly decorative items such as vases or pitchers in many colors. Of course this wouldn’t be lumped in with depression glass, it’s more art glass and beautiful.