A Hundred Years of Depression Glass

Americans endured a difficult time during the Great Depression, an era characterized by economic strife and unemployment. Various industries, including glassmaking, had to pivot their focus to cheaper products in order to stay in business. Depression glass is known for its bright colors and continues to be a valuable collector’s item today.

Mostly based in the Midwest and Eastern United States, 20 main glassware manufacturers, including Federal Glass and MacBeth-Evans, mass-produced depression glass in the 1930s. The affordable product came in various colors, suiting everyone’s tastes and lifting the often-defeated spirits of struggling families.

Initially limited to kitchenware, Depression glass quickly entered other product lines, like ashtrays and candlesticks. It was the perfect piece to add to one’s home decor without spending too much money. Shoppers could buy Depression glass items for a nickel, while the price of other comparable items reached 50 cents.

Many sellers also offered Depression glassware as premiums to boost sales. Shoppers who completed big purchases amounting to a certain dollar total received glassware gifts. Similarly, some companies created offers that combined Depression glass products with the sale of specific items. For instance, shoppers who bought a new Frigidaire received a complete set of glassware from the Lancaster Glass Company.

People dubbed the products “oatmeal glass,” since many could also be found inside oatmeal boxes for free. The Quaker Oats Company regularly placed glassware inside their packages as a sales tactic. Gas stations gifted Depression glassware with oil changes, while cinemas packaged the glassware with Saturday matinee tickets.

Despite its low quality and flawed designs, Depression glass became part of American history. Air bubbles and mold marks may deem products instantly flawed, yet their presence in Depression glassware belies a deeper historical value that goes beyond the production defects.

Although many disposed of their glassware after regaining financially lucrative jobs, the iconic products embody and document a critical phase of US history. Some families preserved their Depression glassware, handing it down generation after generation as precious heirlooms.

By the 1970s, such glassware had gained popularity among collectors, who gave it its current name. The National Depression Glass Association was founded as a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving American glassware produced during the three decades of the Great Depression.

Today, the majority of Depression glass products come in hues of pink, cobalt blue, and green. Less frequent colors include canary yellow, red, and white. Pink Depression glass is by far the most popular. However, green glassware contained traces of uranium, which gave it a fluorescent glow when exposed to ultraviolet light. The distinct, crystal-like patterns of Depression glassware, including Cameo, Royal Lace, and American Sweetheart, connote the lavish lifestyle of the 1920s, which were a better time than the darker 1930s.

Depression glass items are still cheap today, with generic pieces selling for a few dollars. Items with more ornate patterns or rare colors, on the other hand, may cost hundreds of dollars. Famed chef Martha Stewart launched her own jadeite Depression glass collection, further popularizing the trend in mainstream culinary circles.

In July 2022, Nashville revived its annual Elegant and Depression Glass Show after a 2-year hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic. Dealers from all over the United States showcase their glassware products to visitors looking for special decorative pieces to add to their homes, as well as advanced collectors on the lookout for rare items.