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During the Depression in the United States, between the nineteen twenties and the nineteen thirties, many families were hit hard. Jobs were extremely scarce, so the income that was lived upon was budgeted and closely guarded. Many items that once had been a regular convenience were during this depression considered a luxury.
There was, though, something that most families could afford to purchase even during this difficult time, and that was the glass that was manufactured by such companies as Anchor-Hocking and Jeanette. This glass became known as Depression glass, and it is much sought after, after more than sixty years from the end of the Depression.
Manufactured fairly cheaply, this glass found its way into American homes through ‘Dish Nite’ at local neighborhood movie houses; patrons would enter the movie house and for a nickel, they could purchase one piece of this glassware. Many families took advantage of this ‘Dish Nite’ event and after many trips, had collected enough of the offered pieces to have built an entire set for the table, or as kitchen ware.
Depression glass, which comes in many colors such as pink, amber, green, blue and yellow, could also be collected from buying certain brands of laundry soap. The manufacturer would throw in for free a piece of this glassware to the buyers of their products.
When the Depression had ended, in the late nineteen thirties, once again families were able to purchase items that had been off-limits while the country was trying to get its bearings. Jobs were once again more easily found, and the income of most families soon found its way back to where it had once been, before the start of the Depression. These pieces of Depression glassware that had been a cheap source for decorating a table or using in the kitchen were no longer desired by most, and many people simply threw them away; they were a reminder of a very difficult time. Sometimes children were given the pieces as play toys, sometimes they were given to local charities, but for the most part Depression glass pieces were no longer desired in the home.
THE HOBBY OF COLLECTING DEPRESSION GLASS
Today, and for many of the interim years since the Depression, this glassware has become highly collectible and is sought after by both the novice and the professional collector alike. Many of the people who collect these pieces of Americana say that while they enjoy collecting the glass for its monetary value, they also enjoy the history behind each of the colored pieces. Some were born on the heels of the Depression and recall the stories told by family members about the personal difficulties this period brought to them. Collecting these pieces, they say, is like collecting a small bit of the lives of grandparents, and even parents, who lived through this era.
A premium price is often paid for original Depression glass. Many of the original pieces are very difficult, if not impossible, to find on the market, and as is true with so many other collectibles, when the availability of a product is low, the price is high. Serious scouting and hunting is done to search for pieces that may be the missing link to an entire set of the glassware. Flea markets, antique shops, newspaper classifieds, and even the internet are all good places to start when looking for a particular piece, to be enjoyed by itself or to complement an already-existing set.
REPRODUCTIONS, OR FORGERIES
As with so many collectibles, Depression glass can be found as reproduction pieces, or forgeries. Years ago, the attempt to passing off a reproduction or forged piece of Depression glassware was very difficult to do. Today, though, with technology and advanced machinery, forgers do a much better job at creating pieces, so that even the seasoned collector has difficulty telling from the original. Even auctioneers and appraisers have to look very closely, and use varying ways, to find a forged piece.
Most forgeries are manufactured overseas, and then sold to wholesalers who pass them along, knowingly or unknowingly, as the original product. It is this part of the collecting, many enthusiasts agree, that is the most challenging part of their hobby. Finding the missing pieces that belong to their collection is a challenge in itself, but skimming out the forgeries from the real thing can take even longer, calling for patience from those who enjoy collecting these early twentieth century pieces of Americana.
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