Heart shaped depression glas bowl

by Dr. Lori Verderame

Depression Glass History

Depression glass, the colorful glass that was widely popular in the 1930s, is collected in many colors such as green, pink, and amber. This American made glassware has a deceptive name because the glassware was first introduced in the mid 1920s and continued to be produced by some companies well into the 1950s—a far cry from the Depression era.

While the glass was produced for decades after the Depression, this glassware is one of America’s favorite collectibles. You will find it in almost every antiques and collectible shop, flea market, and yard sale. Everyone’s got at least one piece of Depression glass, even it if was made in the period when Eisenhower was in the White House.

Depression glass dishAlthough the Depression was a period where the green stuff or money was only in the hands of a few fortunate Americans, glass was an inexpensive product to produce and became the centerpiece of the American dinner table.

The green Depression glass pepper shaker is a fine example of the form and desirable with collectors who will pay as much as $75 for the salt and pepper set. The salt and pepper shakers complete with concentric circles show typical attributes of the 1930s including the interest in the geometric and machine-inspired forms of the 1920s-1930s.

Request an online appraisal of your Depression glass piece from Dr. Lori.