I found these photos from the depression glass show and the glass is so gorgeous it must be shared! This is Newport, also called Hairpin, from Hazel Atlas.
Newport Cobalt and Amethyst Depression Glass from NDGA Show July 2016
Hazel Atlas was the hands down champion for amethyst and cobalt glass, think of Moderntone in amethyst and cobalt, Royal Lace, Aurora and New Century for cobalt. They produced Newport in amethyst and cobalt, with a little pink and some Platonite white and with colors. I’ve had several amethyst pieces but never any cobalt.
Take a look at the pattern in this sugar. See the vertical V-shaped grooves? Back in the day this reminded people of hairpins, thus the nickname.
Newport Amethyst Depression Glass Sugar Bowl
As you can see Hazel Atlas’ amethyst glass is dark purple, nowhere near as dark as the black glass, but it isn’t lively. (It also shows every speck of dust in photos!)
The blue and amethyst blend nicely as you can see in the top photo. Here is a small table setting with blue Moderntone place setting combined with amethyst Newport creamer and sugar. The blue sparks the dark purple, so pretty!
Moderntone and Newport Depression Glass
Unfortunately my notes aren’t clear which dealer at the July NDGA show had this glass. They must have picked up pieces for a long time, or purchased someone’s collection, in order to have so much. Newport isn’t easy to accumulate in either blue or amethyst, although it is not particularly costly. Replacements offers the amethyst luncheon plate for $15 which is about in line with glass on eBay.
The large plate in the center with the pressed star rays on the back is the sandwich plate, one of the more difficult pieces to find.
Newport Cobalt Blue Depression Glass at the NDGA Show July 2016
The bowls standing up in back are the cream soups. Hazel Atlas made cream soups on several patterns – Royal Lace, Florentine, Moderntone, New Century – and they are generally fairly easy to find. Oddly cream soups in many patterns from other companies are harder to find and may be costly.
Newport Amethyst Depression Glass Creamer
If you find Newport be sure to check the scallops for tiny nicks and look at the surface for scratches. It’s a lovely pattern in any color, or mixed colors, and a great choice to collect for dinnerware.