During the depression glass companies named their patterns after lots of classy sounding places. This one is Mayfair by Hocking Glass, which should make you think of the tony London area.
Right after Hocking came out with this pattern Federal Glass, a major competitor, launched their Mayfair pattern. The story goes that Federal had to rename their glassware, which they did, ending up with Rosemary. Rosemary looks nothing like Hocking’s Mayfair.
I have fond memories of Hocking’s Mayfair. In 1999 I went to a depression glass sale and bought a set of pink goblets. I had only been in business two months and didn’t know what I was doing, but I did know Mayfair pink goblets were valuable. And so they were. I sold them all quickly. Since then I’ve been able to buy only a few pieces.
This serving bowl is about 10 inches wide and big enough to use. It was sold originally with a lid as the covered vegetable bowl. Of course more lids got banged up than the bowls so we see lots more bowls than complete sets or lids alone. Although some pieces of Mayfair are pricey, this bowl is moderately priced, probably one of the less expensive pink depression serving bowls in a popular pattern.
Collectors nicknamed this pattern Open Rose. Before there were glass reference books collectors had to guess at names. Mayfair has lots of stemware and tumblers to choose among – 18 of them, more than some elegant glass patterns – plus the usual dinner sets, serving pieces, cookie jar, decanter. It ‘s a fun pattern to collect and makes a beautiful table.