If you are looking for vintage glass you can enjoy using that also looks lovely on a shelf or counter, try a depression glass pitcher. The glass companies in the 1930s included pitchers in most of the patterns that they produced for a few years and you can find a wide variety in color and shape.
Let’s look at green pitchers first
Floral, also called Poinsettia depression glass from Jeannette is mostly pink or green. Here is the luscious green pitcher.
Let’s see the Cameo green pitcher from Hocking in a table setting. I love this pattern, so graceful. Notice the rope edge around the pitcher rim. Hocking used that rope rim design on other patterns too.
Hocking’s Spiral pattern is one of the first depression glass patterns for dinnerware and Hocking made 3 or 4 pitchers in this design. This first one has that same rope edge as the Cameo pitcher.
This Spiral pitcher has a more rounded shape and the same rope design.
Princess is a very large pattern from Hocking with many pieces including a couple pitchers. The smaller is very similar to the Mayfair one shown above. Notice that neither Mayfair nor Princess pitchers have the rope edge.
Let’s turn to pink. Up first is the smaller Mayfair pitcher. This pitcher holds about 37 ounces filled to the brim and Hocking made others that are much larger, holding 60 and 80 ounces. I’ve not seen the larger ones in person.
This next one is Adam from Jeannette. Many Adam pieces are square-ish as is the foot on this pitcher.
Hazel Atlas made some lovely patterns in the 1930s. I’m particularly fond of Florentine, also called Poppy, which comes mostly in green or yellow. It’s another pattern with many pieces including pitchers.
Federal Glass made several depression glass patterns that include pitchers. Here is the Normandie amber one. It’s quite large too, and holds about 60 ounces.
I’ve noticed that mold-etched designs on some of the larger pitchers, especially on the larger shapes, are rather weak. The motifs on my Cameo pitcher and this Normandie one both felt flat, less distinct, than on other smaller pieces.
We cannot forget crystal depression glass. This one is from Hocking, Manhattan pattern tilt jug.
Jeannette Glass made crystal Iris and Herringbone in the later 1930s and later re-issued the pattern in an iridescent marigold color.
The next two pitchers were made later, after the depression. This first one is Star from Federal, the smallest of the 4 pitchers in this pattern.
This last pitcher is actually not depression glass, but from the 1940s and into the 1960s although it has the look and style of depression ware. It’s Floragold by Jeannette and there are many pieces of this available.
