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The History of Depression Glass

Depression glass is any pressed glass made during the Great Depression from the early 1920s through the mid 1940s. It was glass made very cheaply---mass produced with molds---and often given away in drug and grocery stores as promotional items.

Producers
- Depression glass was mainly made by seven glass companies: Federal, Hazel-Atlas, Hocking, Indiana, Jeanette, MacBeth-Evans and U.S. Glass. These companies produced almost a hundred different patterns in a variety of colors throughout the Depression era. Depression glass was also made by a number of other companies but in limited quantities.
Patterns
- Some of the more popular patterns produced were American Sweetheart by MacBeth-Evans; Cherry Blossom, Adam and Windsor by Jeanette; Horseshoe by Indiana Glass; Aurora by Hazel-Atlas; Cameo and Block Optic by Hocking Glass; Georgian by the Federal Glass Company.
Significance
- Depression-era glass was made using a particular mass production technique that was not used before this time period and replaced by different methods soon afterward. This is one of the reasons that these pieces have become popular collectible items.
Function
- Depression glass was produced mainly for use in the kitchen: plates, cups and saucers, serving bowls, pitchers, butter dishes, salt and pepper shakers, and cream and sugar sets. There were also a few items that could be used in the living room such as coasters, candlesticks and candy jars.
Colors
- Depression glass is transparent glassware that comes in a variety of colors. The most popular colors were amber, blue, green, pink and yellow. There were also pieces produced in amethyst, black, cobalt, crystal, cremax, custard, delphite, iridescent, frosted and dark greens, ivory and jadeite.

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