Glass companies continued making glass after the Great Depression of the 1930s, although the war years in the 1940s certainly slowed production and introducing new patterns. One notable attribute of the later patterns is how many of them were made in crystal only. Crystal here simply means clear glass, not gorgeous high end lead crystal.
Here are a few patterns that show this trend:
Jeannette Glass produced Windsor during the 1930s and continued producing crystal, into the 1940s. Windsor is heavier, thicker than many of the earlier mold-etched patterns from the 1930s, and has pressed diamond pattern that catches the light. It makes a pretty table by itself or combined with the earlier pink or green Windsor, or with other patterns.
Pretzel is from Indiana Glass, their line 622, made from the very end of the 1930s into the 1980s. Indiana made limited numbers of cups and possibly saucers in teal, and produced a full dinnerware set in crystal. Back in the 2002 I purchased a great deal of depression glass from a lady who was downsizing her enormous collection. She used Pretzel for everyday and noted how great it looked on the table.
Indiana made tumblers, plates, cups, saucers, bowls and a few serving pieces, but no candle holder or candy dish and only a few pitchers. Prices for this pretty design remain affordable – as long as you don’t try to purchase tumblers or the pitcher – and it’s notable that the soup bowl is much easier to find than soups are in most patterns.
National is another heavy clear glass pattern from Jeannette, made for about 10 years beginning in the mid 1940s. You have probably seen this without realizing it is a collectible pattern. You can get a luncheon set in National but it’s more of an accessory pattern with a lazy susan, vase, punch bowl set, relish tray, pitcher, candy, candle holder and even a cigarette box.
You might find National with gold flashed or even a few opaque items. Florence shows a white with blue creamer, sugar and tray set in his last book on 1940s-1960s glass.
Jeannette made Dew Drop for just a few years, 1953-1956, almost exclusively in crystal although you might find a few pieces in iridescent marigold. Dew Drop is extremely heavy and it’s another accessory pattern with punch bowl set, relish tray, lazy Susan and similar items.
Thousand Line or Stars and Bars from Anchor Hocking was ubiquitous when I was young. You saw this heavy molded pattern everywhere and almost everyone got a relish tray or similar item for a wedding gift. There are a few flashed pieces floating around and florists used the small milk glass bud vase for years.
Early American Prescut is another Anchor Hocking pattern that we tripped over for years. There are many, many pieces, mostly utlitarian ones like a rectangular butter dish and cover, pitcher, deviled egg tray, several round platters, relish tray, creamer and sugar and salt and pepper. In fact a set of cruets, creamer, sugar, shakers and butter dish was a popular wedding gift back in the 1960s and 1970s.
I could cover several more patterns but will call this enough for now. Look for future posts to go into more detail on some of these.