Last post we looked at Lorain, Indiana Glass’ pattern with mold-etched baskets and scrolls, so beautiful in green and yellow. I’ve had green in stock but oddly have seen yellow at shops more often than the green. So let’s take a look. How hard is it to find pieces?
What Lorain Depression Glass is On eBay?
I found about 100 yellow pieces, including all sizes of bowls, sherbets, tumblers, plates, cups, saucers, platter and relish tray. I didn’t check condition and some of these listings may be chipped or scratched, but overall you could go online today and secure a set including place settings, all serving pieces and tumblers.
On a side note, I dislike seeing listings that say …Lorain Plates… that then never say how many are included in the listing. Most likely the listing is for a single plate but it’s wiser and more customer friendly to say so in the title.
There were only 10 pieces of green, mostly luncheon or plates and tumblers. I only saw one sherbet so likely you would have to wait a while to get sherbets for a complete set for your next dinner with friends. There were no cups and saucers or bowls or other serving pieces, so green is harder to find, at least that’s so today on eBay.
There were a few pieces of clear too. One interesting listing included a clear Lorain vegetable bowl – very hard to find in green and also scarce in yellow – plus a sugar bowl and a snack set. Gene Florence mentions the snack set in his Collector’s Encyclopedia of Depression Glass and it sounds like a neat piece. (In case you wonder what you would use a snack set for, think of all the times you want a cup of coffee and a doughnut or cookies! I would have liked a few sets for my peonies and coffee party.)
What About the Dark Avocado Green and White Sherbets?
Indiana used their basket mold etch to make a few pieces in the trendy colors of the 1960s, avocado and white (milk glass). The most common is similar to the sherbet but with a frilly top.
I don’t think you would want to drink out of this piece with the rim full of curlicues and suspect it was made as a candy dish or comport. Although the pattern is Lorain it’s not depression glass because Indiana made it in the late 1960s.
What’s Available on Replacements?
Replacements has a decent selection of yellow Lorain, including all the plates, creamer, sugar, relish, a couple bowls and tumblers. Today they are out of sherbets, cups, platter and a couple bowls.
Like eBay Replacements has far less green in stock today, only the salad bowl, saucer and luncheon plate.
Prices for Green and Yellow
Prices on eBay are asking prices, which may differ from actual selling prices, and it’s a little complicated because of shipping/multiple items, so on. Nonetheless, it’s fair to say that sellers are mostly asking something close to 2010 Florence’s book value. Tumblers are $15 to $30 with shipping.
I tend to use Replacements as my guide for pricing, and they price yellow Lorain tumblers at $16 plus shipping.
There isn’t enough green to say much. I recall my green pieces sold easily at what was then book value.
(Be aware that “book value” is somewhat elusive since most depression glass books are a bit old and the online market has swings in pricing due to changes in supply and demand.)
Summary: Collectible or So Hard to Find You Will Regret Wanting It?
Overall I recommend Lorain if you want to collect a pattern in depression glass. The yellow is lovely and more plentiful but personally I prefer the green. You will be able to get a set – dinnerware or just a few pieces as you choose – with some time and lots of fun looking.
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