This morning we lost my last Waterford Waffle depression glass coaster. Reconstructing the crime we suspect Sophie jumped on the table to avoid George, skidded across and knocked my coaster over. The floor is tile so the coaster is shards. (Sophie and George both have 4 feet, tails and eat cat food.)
The Waterford coaster was particularly useful because it had sides to keep any moisture inside and little raised ridges to keep wet bottoms from sticking to the coaster.
That made me think back to the other depression glass coasters we’ve had and wonder which other patterns included these little gems of glass? I went through my trusty Florence’s Collector’s Encyclopedia of Depression Glass to check each pattern for coasters. There were more than I thought.
Adam Jeannette’s much-loved Adam pattern includes pink and green coasters, probably crystal too. Notice the square-ish shape, typical Adam design with the flowers on the flat rim and stylized leaves in the center. Coaster has 4 small ridges to keep your wet glass from sticking.
American Pioneer I have never seen this pattern from Liberty Glassworks. The pink and green listings both include a coaster but I did not find photos to use.
Cherry Blossom coasters come in green or pink, and likely clear, but not Delphite.
Cube Not surprisingly, Jeannette included coasters in their Cube pattern in green or pink. Cube is the pattern that resembles elegant glass Fostoria American.
Diana Federal Glass made Diana coasters in crystal, pink and amber. It appears the design is in the base interior thus the pattern itself provides the spacing to keep wet glasses from sticking, no little ridges needed.
Dogwood MacBeth Evans made Dogwood in the early years of the depression and apparently included a coaster and a coaster with spoon rest but I could not find photos. Florence ascribes a hefty $595 value to the pink coaster! Probably not many people would acquire a set of 8.
Doric We had many Doric pieces including the pink coaster shown here. Sorry for the lousy photo, I took this before getting decent equipment for pictures. Jeannette made a green coaster too. Jeannette’s similar Doric and Pansy pattern does not include a coaster.
Floral Jeannette must have found coasters to be good sellers because they made Floral Poinsettia green and pink coasters. (Old photo again.)
Florentine #1 and Florentine #2 Hazel Atlas used their pretty Florentine pattern with sprays of poppies on two blanks, #2 is rounded and #1 more angular. They made coasters in both patterns in green, pink and yellow.
Gem Gem, also called Kaleidoscope is a Hocking Glass pattern that I recall seeing only once. Sorry, no photo.
Homespun Jeannette made Homespun during the later depression and included coasters in pink, crystal and yellow. Oddly the coasters lack the characteristic narrow ribs that most Homespun pieces have. The rim is wavy and the center has little squares.
Iris and Herringbone Crystal Iris is from the depression and Jeannette made a coaster. Be aware this has been reproduced. It doesn’t appear there is a coaster in the later-made iridescent Iris.
Lotus #1921 Westmoreland included coasters in their Lotus pattern in several colors but I have no photo.
Manhattan Hocking made Manhattan in crystal and pink and included a coaster in crystal.
Miss America Miss America has coasters in pink or crystal with pointed rims and others with smooth rims.
Monticello I don’t recall seeing this pattern from Imperial Glass in person but the book listings include a coaster which I didn’t find photographed.
Princess Hocking’s Princess has coasters listed in pink, green, topaz and the darker apricot/topaz. The design reminds me of Adam, horizontal rim with scrolls and the main design on the round base.
Queen Mary The coasters in Queen Mary can be used as ashtrays. I had them in crystal and Forest Green; the green may be from the 1940s. Florence lists a separate coaster without the cigarette rests but I’ve not seen it nor could find photos.
Sunflower Probably the most common piece of Sunflower is the cake plate, but if you want to serve cake along with a drink, look for the pretty Sunflower coaster too in pink or green. It’s another dual purpose coaster/ashtray.
Swirl aka Petal Swirl Jeannette’s Swirl pattern has a cute coaster in pink or their luscious ultramarine teal.
Windsor You probably noticed the preponderance of coasters from Jeannette Glass.
There were several depression glass patterns that have zillions of pieces that surprisingly lack coasters, including American Sweetheart, Block Optic, Cameo, Madrid, Mayfair, Royal Lace.
If we extend our glass survey to patterns from the 1940s to 1970s we would find more coasters from Jeannette Glass, including Harp and Floragold or Anchor Hocking’s Early American Prescut and Wexford. (I still have several Early American Prescut coasters that the cats have not yet dumped on the floor.)
Or in the elegant ranks, many patterns that were produced for several years include coasters such as Duncan Miller Sandwich shown below.
Coasters are practical and a fun way to include vintage glass in your home.