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How to Identify Depression Glass Makers

Depression glass plates, glasses, butter dishes and other tableware items were made by dozens of companies in the mid-1920s through 1940. The products were cheap and of a poor quality, sold in five-and-dime stores and used for giveaways. Despite the poor quality and mold flaws of many pieces, Depression glass is highly collectible.

Instructions

- 1
  Purchase a reference book that lists marks, patterns and other information about various Depression glass makers. There were around a dozen glass makers who produced the majority of glassware and many more lesser-known companies.
- 2
  Get to know some of the Depression glass patterns. There are two types of patterns. "Generic" patterns are unnamed and difficult to identify. "Known" patterns are named. Some patterns are easy to remember, like the dancing girl in Hocking Glass Company's "Cameo" and the open rose of their "Mayfair" pattern.
- 3
  Find out what colors various manufacturers used. Common colors of Depression glass are green, pink, yellow and blue. Some companies offered harder to find colors like ruby, cobalt and monax (a transparent white.)
- 4
  Become familiar with the marks of Depression glass makers. Keep in mind that pieces often weren't marked. Be especially aware of marks that often get mislabeled by sellers because of similar company names. For example, a large "H" over an "A" is the marking for Hazel Atlas, but sometimes gets called Anchor Hocking. An "I" on top of a "G" is not Indiana Glass Company but a later marking for Imperial Glass Company.

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