Click on the pattern name to access posts about each pattern and use these photos to Identify your depression glass patterns.
Adam Depression Glass
Maker: Jeannette Glass
Date Produced: 1932 to 1934
Colors: Mostly pink and green with a few pieces of translucent Delphite blue, yellow and crystal.
Jeannette’s Adam is popular and some pieces are hard to find. You can assemble a complete dinner set plus candle holders, candy dish, vase. The accessory pieces tend to be expensive. You’ll want to watch for damage on the inner rims as they tend to get nicked. Adam has not been reproduced.
Adams Rib by Diamond Glassware – Depression Glass Pattern
Maker: Diamond Glassware
Date Produced: about 1925
Colors: Colors of the era. We’ve had pink and amber and it came in green, blue and iridescent colors.
Adams Rib is not well known which is a shame since it has a refined elegant look. The design is narrow ribs with smooth bands near the rim. It mostly came in accessory pieces, like the candy jar shown, plus you can collect a small lunch set.
American Sweetheart Depression Glass from MacBeth-Evans
Maker: MacBeth Evans
Date Produced: 1930 to 1936
Colors: Pink and translucent monax white. There are a few cobalt blue and red pieces and some monax has gold or colored trim on the rim.
American Sweetheart is one of the most beloved patterns and you can readily find most pieces. You can get a complete dinner set without spending a fortune. Some serving pieces, like the sugar lid, tumblers and cream soups are pricey but you don’t have to get them.
The monax white is elegant and ethereal, an excellent choice even if you don’t ordinarily care for white glass. It is translucent and so thin that some pieces have a blue tinge on the rims.
Aunt Polly Depression Glass
Maker: U. S. Glass
Colors: Blue and green, we’ve only had the blue.
Aunt Polly suffers from not being well known and it has rough seams, which is typical of US Glass. The blue is quite pretty.
Aurora Depression Glass
Maker: Hazel Atlas
Date Produced: Late 1930s
Colors: Cobalt blue, some pink, green and clear. We’ve only had the blue.
Aurora is stunning in blue. There are not a lot of pieces available, just a cup and saucer, two bowls, small plate and the tumbler shown. It works well mixed with other patterns. It would be fun to create a set of blue depression glass that mixed different patterns together. Hazel Atlas made Aurora, Moderntone, Newport and New Century, which are among the more common blue depression glass, so all these patterns are the same color and blend well together.
Block Optic Depression Glass
Maker: Hocking
Date Produced: 1929 to 1933
Colors: Green, topaz yellow, pink and clear with some satin frosted pieces and a little amber and blue.
Block Optic is the old reliable in depression glass. You will find some at almost every antique store and the range of pieces is astonishing. There are at least 5 different creamers and sugars and cups, multiple tumblers, sherbets and goblets, plus a full dinnerware set and many accessory pieces. The green seems the most prevalent followed by yellow, at least in mid-Michigan.
If you are looking for a fun pattern to collect then choose Block Optic. It is pretty, displays beautifully in a cupboard or on the table, reasonably priced and fun to find.
Bowknot Depression Glass
Maker: Uncertain, probably Belmont Tumbler
Date Produced: Late 1920s
Colors: Green,.
Bowknot is very pretty with mold etched design of ribbon all tied in bows with swags between. There are only a few pieces, tumblers, small plate and bowls, sherbet and cup.
Cameo Ballerina Dancing Girl Depression Glass from Hocking
Maker: Hocking
Date Produced: 1930 to 1934
Colors: Green, yellow, a little pink and clear.
Cameo is another Hocking pattern with tons of pieces to choose, including stemware, tumblers, accessory pieces and a full dinner set. The pattern has a dancer draped in scarves, likely Isidore Duncan, in small cameos around the rim connected with swags and flowers. The design was modified from Monongah’s Springtime plate etching to allow the Cameo pattern to be mass produced.
Shakers have been reproduced in different colors than the originals and Mosser Glass made a line of small children’s dishes called “Jennifer” that you may see advertised to go with American Girl dolls. These reproductions and remakes are easy to tell so you should not worry about being fooled.
This is a gorgeous pattern, one of the prettiest depression glass and you won’t go wrong with it.
Cherry Blossom Depression Glass
Maker: Jeannette
Date Produced: 1930 to 1939
Colors: Pink, green, Delphite (opaque blue), and a little jadeite, clear and red.
Cherry Blossom is one of the most lovely depression glass patterns. Sadly many pieces have been reproduced, notably cups, saucers, dinner plates, small bowls, butter dishes, tumblers, pitchers, serving trays, shaker. Most of the fakes have tell-tale faults. If you like Cherry Blossom I recommend y ou get at least one good depression glass book and learn about fakes. I used and can recommend Collector’s Encyclopedia of Depression Glass, 19th Edition by Gene and Cathy Florence. Your library may have this or an earlier edition.
Chinex Classic, Cremax, Oxford Depression Glass from MacBeth Evans
Maker: MacBeth Evans
Date Produced: Late 1930s into the 1940s
Colors: MacBeth Evans made several variations of translucent creamy colored glass with different rim designs and decorations. The one shown is Cremax with a brown castle scene. Please see this page for all three patterns.
Colonial Knife and Fork Depression Glass
Maker: Hocking
Date Produced: 1934 to 1936
Colors: Pink, green, clear and vitrock (opaque white).
Colonial can be fun to collect with the many pieces including stemware, tumblers, bowls, dinnerware and pitchers.
Maker: Federal
Date Produced: 1938 to 1942
Colors: Clear with a few pieces in pink.
Columbia is heavy with a solid design of molded rays and inset dots. It sparkles in the light.
Cube Cubist Depression Glass
Maker: Jeannette
Date Produced: 1929 to 1933
Colors: Pink, green and a few pieces in clear.
People mistake Cube for Fostoria’s American pattern and the knock off of American, Whitehall. If you find amber or olive green they are Whitehall. Pink or clear could be Cube but it would be good to get a book that shows Cube and get familiar with the pieces. This is another pattern where if you get familiar with the glass you won’t have any problem with reproductions or similar patterns.
Diana Depression Glass
Maker: Federal
Date Produced: 1937 to 1941
Colors: Clear, amber, pink and some with gold or platinum trims.
Isn’t this demitasse set pretty with the platinum trim on clear depression glass? The cup and saucer are small and have the narrow swirled ribs we find in Diana.
Dogwood Depression Glass from MacBeth Evans
Dogwood Appleblossom Depression Glass
Maker: MacBeth Evans
Date Produced: 1929 to 1932
Colors: Pink with some green, monax white, crystal and a piece or two in yellow.
Dogwood is drop dead gorgeous. The glass is thin, which we find in other MacBeth Evans patterns, and the pattern is all over big flowers. It looks like a brocade. You can find most pieces – a small dinner set and even some tumblers – fairly reasonably priced. There are a couple pieces that are expensive, like the pitcher.
Dogwood doesn’t seem too prone to damage, a good thing. There are enough pieces you can have fun with it. We specialize in Dogwood and have pieces here.
Doric Depression Glass from Jeannette
Maker: Jeannette
Date Produced: 1935 to 1938
Colors: Pink, green, a few pieces in delphite opaque blue, ultramarine, yellow and clear.
Doric is pretty and there are enough pieces to make it fun to collect. Most pieces are moderately priced. There is a band of three narrow ridges just below the pattern band on most pieces. You’ll want to check those ridges carefully for little nicks.
Doric and Pansy Depression Glass from Jeannette
Maker: Jeannette
Date Produced: 1937 to 1938
Colors: Ultramarine, some pink and clear.
Doric and Pansy is a little busier than Doric since the squares that are plain in Doric are filled with a pansy flower in Doric and Pansy. Jeannette made a child’s set too, which is called Pretty Polly.
Floragold Louisa Depression Glass
Maker: Jeannette
Date Produced: 1931 to 1935
Colors: Iridescent marigold
Strictly speaking Floragold is not true depression glass because it was made in the 1950s, but the pattern and styling is so typical of the depression era that collectors commonly consider it with depression glass. Most pieces are square and there are many to choose among.
Floral Poinsettia Depression Glass
Maker: Jeannette
Date Produced: 19317 to 1935
Colors: Pink, green, a few pieces in other colors.
Floral or Poinsettia is one of my favorite patterns. It has big exuberant flowers and leaves all over and comes in a beautiful array of pieces. The only pieces that have been reproduced are the shakers.
Supposedly the flowers on Floral are poinsettias, but the leaves look nothing like poinsettias – and the flowers look more like passion flowers. Remember that back in the 1930s, when Floral came out, poinsettias were exotic flowers, not the ubiquitous Christmas plants we all know today.
Florentine #1 and #2 Poppy Depression Glass from Hazel Atlas
Maker: Hazel Atlas
Date Produced: 1932 to 1935
Colors: Green, topaz yellow, pink, clear, a few pieces of blue
Florentine is really two patterns, Florentine #1 and Florentine #2; cup shown is #2 shape. (Glass makers were not that creative with their pattern names.) The only difference is the shape of the glass. The #1 pieces have scalloped rims or feet and the #2 are round. The handles are rounded on #1 and angular on #2. Colors and pattern are identical on both and you can mix and match the colors and the shapes.
The glass has poppies strewn all over it, giving the nickname “Poppy”. Florentine #1 shakers and one style each Florentine #2 juice and pitcher have been reproduced
Fortune Depression Glass from Hocking
Maker: Hocking
Date Produced: 1937 to 1938
Colors: Pink and clear.
Fortune is a pretty pattern that has only a few pieces, enough to set the table for lunch. Sometimes people confuse Fortune with Old Café. You can tell Fortune because it has one wide panel alternating with one narrow panel.
Georgian Lovebirds Depression Glass
Georgian Lovebirds Depression Glass
Maker: Federal
Date Produced: 1931 to 1936
Colors: Green with some amber and clear.
Georgian Lovebirds is one of my favorite patterns. There are triangular motifs that alternate two birds with a basket of flowers and all are connected by swags and a molded band. Georgian has a nice assortment of pieces and is moderately priced. Yes, you can spend a lot on a few rare pieces but you can get everything you need without too much difficulty.
You may find statements on the internet that any unmarked Georgian is a reproduction. This is not true. Green Georgian has not been reproduced. Some cups, saucers and sherbets are marked but most are not. The markings have more to do with the exact production date since Federal marked only some glass.
Holiday Buttons and Bows Depression Glass
Maker: Jeannette Glass
Date Produced: 1947 to 1949
Colors: Mostly pink with some iridescent and clear.
Jeannette’s Holiday is not truly depression glass since it was made in the 1940s but it slips in based on the colors and the style. It’s a molded design with lots of surface texture. The pink is a lovely clear color.
Iris and Herringbone Depression Glass
Maker: Jeannette Glass
Date Produced: 1928 to 1932
Colors: Clear, iridescent and later in the 1950s and 1970s fired on colors.
Iris is a neat pattern that has a background like a herringbone tweed and big iris flowers and leaves in relief on top. This pattern pops in iridescent and sparkles in the clear.
Jeannette made a lot of interesting pieces and most are reasonably available and in the moderately expensive range. It’s odd but tumblers are some of the easiest pieces to find and are inexpensive.
There have been a few pieces reproduced which are supposed to be easy to tell. If you like Iris then I highly recommend the book Collector’s Encyclopedia of Depression Glass by Gene and Cathy Florence which has a thorough description of the fakes.
Lindburgh Line 719 Depression Glass from Imperial
Maker: Imperial Glass
Date Produced: 1930s
Colors: Crystal, some pink and green
Lindburgh is a very small pattern, mostly bowls and decorative pieces from Imperial. The motif is similar to Ribbon from Hazel Atlas but the piece shapes differ greatly.
Lorain Basket Depression Glass
Maker: Indiana Glass
Date Produced: 1929 to 1932
Colors: Green and yellow and a few pieces of crystal.
Lorain is incredible, very lovely in both green and yellow. It looks wonderful on a table and having even a few pieces will add style and color. Most pieces are square. Plates have the baskets on the corners with swags on the sides and big medallions in the centers.
The only point against Lorain is the seams are usually raised enough that you can feel them.
Here is a link to a tablescape we did with all Lorain green depression glass, and just one picture from that to give you an idea how gorgeous this glass is.
Maker: Federal Glass
Date Produced: 1932 – 1939
Colors: Amber (all pieces), green, some blue, some pink, crystal
You can get a full dinnerware set including many serving pieces and accessories in amber, a reasonable set in blue. Be aware there are many reproduction/reissued pieces of Madrid in amber, pink, crystal and a teal blue that is unlike the original soft Madonna blue.
Maker: Hocking Glass
Date Produced: 1938 to 1943
Colors: Mostly clear with some pink and a few pieces of Royal Ruby.
You can get a small dinner set in Manhattan but the pieces that have the most looks are the accessories like the tilt pitcher, vase, candy jar and relish tray.
Mayfair Open Rose Depression Glass
Maker: Hocking Glass
Date Produced: 1931 to 1937
Colors: Mostly pink, green, blue and yellow with many more pieces in pink than any other color. While Hocking made over half the pieces in yellow it is scarce.
You can get a full dinner set in Mayfair plus goblets, tumblers, accessory pieces and many bowls and decorative pieces. About the only piece Hocking did not make in Mayfair was a candle holder.
Like Block Optic, Mayfair is a collectors dream. There are so many pieces to choose among, the pattern is lovely, colors are super. You can get a nice collection without spending a fortune as the basic pieces are moderately priced, especially in pink. There are a few rare pieces that serious collectors chase that are expensive and color plays a big role in price.
Mayfair doesn’t seem particularly prone to damage. Although plates have rims the interior edge is rounded which helps a lot to reduce damage.
Maker: Hocking Glass
Date Produced: 1935 to 1938
Colors: Mostly pink and clear with a few pieces of green, ice blue and ruby.
Miss America remains one of the most popular patterns. It is sparkly and pretty and has a lot of looks in any of the colors. Miss America footed pieces have square bottoms and plates have molded stars in the center and wide rims with diamond shapes on the back.
Miss America was one of the patterns people used for their good dishes. It looks fancy.
You can easily get a set in clear quite inexpensively. Pink is more costly but you’ll find most pieces are still affordable and can be found. Please be sure to check for surface wear and nicks on the points. Also be aware that the smooth rims can get clunked and damaged if people are careless.
Modernistic aka Colonial Block Depression Glass
Date Produced: Early 1930s
Colors: Green, pink, crystal, a few pieces in Platonite white, black or blue
Modernistic is an accessory/serving pattern, no cups or saucers, a grill plate but no other dinnerware. Look for the round butter dish with domed lid, butter tub, serving bowl and small bowl, goblet, sherbet and pitcher, creamer and sugar plus the attractive candy jar.
Maker: Hazel Atlas
Date Produced: 1934 to 1942
Colors: Cobalt blue, amethyst, some clear, pink and fired on colors
If you love blue then you can’t go wrong with Moderntone. There are a lot pieces to choose among and you can get a dinner set and serving pieces quite easily and at moderate expense.
The only thing you have to be careful of with Moderntone is surface wear. This may not matter to you if you intend to use your glass for meals. If it does matter then be sure to hold plates up to the light and check for scratches and haziness.
Moderntone has the classic good looks of Art Deco – and those rings look a little outer space.
Hazel Atlas re-issued Moderntone in platonite white glass with fired on colors in the 1950s. You can find a rainbow of colors.
Newport Hairpin Depression Glass
Maker: Hazel Atlas
Date Produced: 1936 to 1940
Colors: Amethyst, blue, with a few pieces of pink.
Newport is one of the easiest depression patterns to find in amethyst glass. It’s a prettier shade than the photo shows with more life. Early collectors nicknamed this Hairpin for the scallop lines.
Hazel Atlas reused the pattern blanks to make white platonite with fired on colors after the depression.
Maker: Federal Glass
Date Produced: 1933 to 1940
Colors: Amber, pink, iridescent and a few pieces in clear and green.
Normandie is an exceptionally pretty pattern with bouquets between trellis like lattices. I’ve a soft spot for Normandie because the first piece of depression glass I bought was a Normandie dinner plate. You can get a set in amber, iridescent or pink inexpensively. Amber is more common than pink. Federal made the iridescent after the depression era; it is a dark marigold color.
Number 612, Horseshoe Depression Glass
Maker: Indiana Glass
Date Produced: 1930 to 1933
Colors: Green and yellow with some pink and clear.
Indiana Glass gave this pattern the exciting name of Number 612 but a much better name is Horseshoe. The design has big horseshoe shaped motifs with lots of flowers, very pretty. Some pieces have raised seams which is common with Indiana depression glass.
You can bet a nice set for lunch or dinner with tumblers and accessory pieces. Horseshoe is moderately expensive and not as plentiful as some.
Number 616, Vernon Depression Glass
Maker: Indiana Glass
Date Produced: 1930 to 1932
Colors: Clear, green and yellow.
Vernon is pretty but not there were only a few pieces made. You could serve lunch with Vernon. It is not terribly common yet it is inexpensive. Pieces have raised seams which is common with Indiana depression glass.
Number 618, Pineapple and Floral Depression Glass
Maker: Indiana Glass
Date Produced: 1932 to 1937, reissued some pieces later in avocado and other colors
Colors: Clear, with some amber and other colors that are scarce.
Pineapple and Floral sparkles in the light and has a pretty design. Pieces have raised seams.
Maker: Hocking Glass
Date Produced: 1936 to 1940
Colors: Clear, pink with some Royal Ruby.
You can get a dinner set but the accessory and pieces like the candy dish and olive dish are more interesting. Old Café has two narrow panels between one wider panel.
Old Colony Depression Glass
Maker: Hocking Glass
Date Produced: 1935 to 1938
Colors: Pink, clear with a few pieces of green.
Can you see why people call Old Colony Open Lace or Lace Edge? It is quite pretty and the serving and accessory pieces are fun. Other glass companies made similar patterns so if you find topaz yellow then it’s not Old Colony. Topaz and green are most likely to be Lancaster.
Old English Depression Glass
Maker: Indiana Glass
Date Produced: Late 1920s
Colors: Amber and green, some pink and other colors .
Old English is an accessory pattern. It has no cup and saucer. Instead it has fanciful vases, compotes (Indiana’s word for comport), bowls, snack plates. Pieces are finished better than the later depression glass from Indiana.
Maker: Hazel Atlas
Date Produced 1930 to 1935 (later made in solid colors over Platonite)
Colors: Transparent green, black, white Platonite and Platonite with decorations
Ovide is simple with solid shapes. It is a small luncheon pattern in transparent green or black plus a lidded candy dish and shakers. Hazel Atlas made more pieces in Platonite, including serving platter and bowls, tumbler, smalll fruit bowl and cereal bowl.
Oyster and Pearl Depression Glass
Maker: Hocking Glass
Date Produced: 1938 to 1940
Colors: Pink, clear, some Royal Ruby and white with pink or green fired on.
Oyster and Pearl has 8 pieces total, all bowls, candle holders or relish trays. The pattern is bold and striking.
Parrot Depression Glass
Maker: Federal Glass
Date Produced: 1931 to 1932
Colors: Green with some amber. My book says a few pieces in clear or blue.
Parrot is pretty, hard to find and one of the more expensive patterns in this guide. It isn’t for everyone. We have just a couple of pieces in our store. Most bowls and plates are square, shaped like Patrician or Madrid. The pattern is fun with a couple noisy parrots squawking under palm trees.
Patrician Depression Glass
Maker: Federal Glass
Date Produced: 1933 to 1937
Colors: Amber, green with some pink and clear.
Patrician is a good contrast to Parrot. It is fairly easy to find most pieces in amber, quite affordable. Both the amber and green are pretty; I’ve not had the pink in our store.
Patrician has a big center motif like a wheel, which gave the nickname Spoke. The one thing to watch for is inner rim roughness.
Petalware Depression Glass
Maker: MacBeth Evans
Date Produced: 1930 to 1950
Colors: Pink, monax white, clear, some blue and many decorated pieces.
Petalware is deceptively simple. The design is molded curved panels that look like petals but this pattern is very pretty. It looks great on the table in any color.
See that plain center? People who paint found that irresistible and you will find many designs and painted scenes.
The pink and white are fairly easy to find and not at all expensive.
Maker: Hocking Glass
Date Produced: 1937 to 1942
Colors: Mostly pink, crystal and green with a few pieces of Royal Ruby.
If you saw a clear Pillar Optic tumbler you’d recognize it for sure. Anchor Hocking continued making this for restaurant trade for years and you can find it repeated in plastic too.
Pillar Optic is attractive, especially in green, and looks fresh and simple on the table. The clear, pink and green are reasonably priced. You can tell this apart from the Hazel Atlas’ New Century depression pattern because New Century has a bulls eye in the center and more pronounced horizontal bands.
Princess Depression Glass
Maker: Hocking Glass
Date Produced: 1931 to 1935
Colors: Mostly pink, green, topaz yellow with a few pieces of light blue.
Princess, pretty Princess is square shaped with a lovely center medallion and scrolls on the rim that look like draperies. The pink and green are Hocking’s usual colors. You can find two shades of yellow, a clear light topaz yellow and a darker color called apricot. It’s not clear whether Hocking intended to make two colors.
Princess plate shapes and styles are quite a bit like Mayfair, square with the corners scalloped. There are far fewer pieces of Princess however.
With Princess watch out for inner rim roughness on bowls. The rims are not particularly pointed but people stacked these for years and over time the rims got rough. There have been candy jars reproduced in odd colors of dark green (instead of the lovely light Hocking green), cobalt and amber.
Here is the correct shade of green. The platter shows the pattern well, especially on the rim.
Queen Mary Depression Glass
Maker: Hocking Glass
Date Produced: 1936 to 1949
Colors: Mostly pink and clear with a few pieces of Royal Ruby.
Hocking’s Queen Mary is especially nice in clear. Hocking named this pattern to capitalize on the fascination Americans had with English royalty, especially during the depression. If you decide to collect Queen Mary then be aware the ridges are pointed and can chip. Check the ribs as well as the rims for damage.
Queen Mary is quite plentiful and among the less expensive patterns.
Radiance Depression Glass
Maker: New Martinsville
Date Produced: 1936 to 1939
Colors: Amber, red, cobalt, light blue, clear, pink and emerald green.
Radiance straddles the border between depression glass and the better-made elegant glass. Pieces have ground base rims typical of elegant glass yet most depression glass authors include Radiance in depression glass books.
The little cordial shown is the only size goblet made. It is little and oh-so-cute. New Martinsville used Radiance for most of their etched patterns and you can find Hughes Cornflower cut pieces too. Creamers and sugars have interesting solid wing-shaped handles.
Ribbon Depression Glass
Maker: Hazel Atlas
Date Produced: 1930s
Colors: Green, and you may find clear, pink or black.
Ribbon is another Art Deco pattern with only a few pieces. It is attractive and fun. There is a similar pattern from Imperial Glass called Lindburgh made only in clear and had different shaped pieces.
Rosemary Depression Glass
Maker: Federal Glass
Date Produced: 1930s
Colors: Amber, green and pink. Amber is the easiest to find.
Rosemary had an interesting history. Originally Federal released a fanciful pattern they named Mayfair. With Hocking’s Mayfair already there, Federal redesigned their Mayfair pattern and converted it to Rosemary. Rosemary is simple, with a center rose bouquet on plates and scalloped grooves with roses between on the rim. You may see it called Dutch Rose.
Rosemary is heavy and durable, about the only point to check is surface wear. The shapes look more solid and don’t have the scallops of other Federal patterns.
Roulette Depression Glass
Maker: Hocking Glass
Date Produced: 1935 to 1938
Colors: Green and pink and clear.
Hocking marketed Roulette as a winner for promoting groceries and other items. Apparently it was sold to retailers only as a premium – pieces were given away with a purchase.
You’ll find more Roulette beverage sets than in some patterns and there were only a few lunch set pieces, like the plate, cup and saucer. There are no Roulette small bowls or dinner plates.
Royal Lace Depression Glass
Maker: Hazel Atlas
Date Produced: 1934 to 1941
Colors: Green, blue, pink and clear.
Royal Lace is one of the prettiest patterns in any of the colors you choose. It looks great with the colors blended too. Hazel Atlas made more pink, green and clear than the gorgeous blue. according to my books the blue was a happy accident that happened when Hazel Atlas had some cobalt left over from other glass.
Royal Lace plates have rims with sharply defined inner edges. These can get small nicks and rough spots so be sure to check for inner rim roughness.
You have many pieces to choose among, including a full dinnerware set, several tumblers, pitchers, candle holders and accessory pieces. Royal Lace is one of the more expensive depression glass patterns. You can control your costs by blending colors and picking the pieces you want. For example, there are two candle holders, the one shown below and another with a scalloped rim that is more costly.
S Pattern or Stippled Rose Band Depression Glass
Maker: MacBeth Evans
Date Produced: 1930 to 1933
Colors: Yellow, amber, clear and clear with trims.
S Pattern looks delicate with its thin glass and lacy pattern but it is not particularly prone to damage. You can assemble a lunch or small dinner set in any color without too much trouble and it is one of the least costly patterns.
Sharon Cabbage Rose Depression Glass
Maker: Federal Glass
Date Produced: 1935 to 1939
Colors: Amber, pink, green and a few pieces of clear.
If Sharon is your favorite then you are in good company. It is one of the most popular and sought after patterns. Sharon is one of the very few patterns that has an asymmetric designs, a spray of big happy roses around part of the center and panels with more roses on the rim.
Sharon is not too prone to damage other than surface wear. Stack the plates and bowls with paper plates between to keep from rubbing on the raised bands on the rims.
Sharon has been reproduced but you will have no trouble spotting fakes. The green and blue are simply wrong colors. The cheese dish, candy jar, shakers creamer and sugar are the only pieces said to be reproduced and they just look wrong. The candy jar shown is the real depression glass. If you decide to collect Sharon protect yourself by learning the tell-tale signs to distinguish real from reproductions. A good book is Collector’s Encyclopedia of Depression Glass by Gene and Cathy Florence.
Swirl or Petal Swirl Depression Glass
Maker: Jeannette Glass
Date Produced: 1937 to 1938
Colors: Ultramarine (teal), pink, some delphite opaque blue, amber and ice blue.
Swirl is a neat pattern that looks plain until you see a few pieces together. Then it pops. The ultramarine is especially pretty.
Swirl has nice smooth edges and doesn’t tend to get nicked too easily. It’s reasonably available and one of the more affordable patterns. If you are looking for a set in pink or ultramarine Swirl is a good place to start.
Waterford Depression Glass
Maker: Hocking Glass
Date Produced: 1937 to 1938
Colors: Clear, pink, a few pieces in other colors.
Do not confuse Waterford depression glass with the fine Irish crystal. Waterford is called Waffle for the nice design. Waterford was named to evoke the richness of fine hand-cut crystal but this pattern is mass-produced depression glass.
There are some interesting Waterford Waffle pieces. It is reasonably priced, fairly easy to find and looks great sparkling on the table.
Windsor Depression Glass
Maker: Jeannette Glass
Date Produced: 1936 to 1946
Colors: Clear, pink and green. There were a few pieces in other colors.
The name Windsor was intended to remind people of British royalty. This is a large pattern with many pieces, especially in clear. It is reasonably easy to find and affordable.
I hope you enjoyed reading about depression glass. There are other patterns plus a whole world of elegant glass, from Fostoria, Cambridge, Tiffin and others. If you have pieces you would like help with please post photos on our Facebook page here.