- A Pocket Guide to Pink Depression Era Glass

Excellent Resource ~~~ recommended for collectors ~~~ 4 stars
REVIEW

The time known as the Great Depression was a period of widespread unemployment, little ready cash and poured glassware offered in pretty colors, blue, green, yellow and especially pink, to help take thoughts away from the realization that there was little to eat to put on that plate.

During the years from 1928 and on into the 1940s, and even the 50s for some patterns, glass companies produced inexpensive, colorful glass using machine made techniques employing several methods including chipped mold , paste mold , cut mold , and mold etched . Much of the glass produced was used as promotional or premium items. So called oatmeal glass refers to the glassware items which came in boxes of oatmeal. All of these are highly collectible today.

With names reading Adam , Block Optic , Dogwood , Doric and Pansy , Number 61 , to list a few of the pink Depression era glassware patterns is a relic of a time when movies cost a dime AND you received a dish or a cup when you entered the theater.

- A Pocket Guide to Pink Depression Era Glass provides a handy reference for checking to see what the piece you are viewing on the jumble shop shelf might be. Novice collectors especially need to avail themselves of a reference having clear pictures showing patterns before setting out on a buying foray. Seasoned collectors are rarely seen without a book in their hands as they browse the shelves of jumble and antique shops.

Because of the magnificent diversity, beauty, and efficacy, depression glass , is among the hottest of collectibles found in today's antiques/collectibles market. The glass remains a collectible… general rule of thumb is; age of 100 years means the item is an antique, younger than 100 years means the item is a collectible. Whatever the term, pink glassware of the depression era is popular, beautiful and highly prized by many collector.

While there are many excellent books available today for collectors, A Pocket Guide to Pink Depression Era Glass is billed as the first work to comprehensively cover only pink glass produced during the Depression Era. Pink was a very popular color of glassware during the depression era and it has retained its popularity right to the present day.

Unfortunately some of the glassware was broken when theater goers forgot they were holding a dish, stood at the end of the film and the sound of breaking glassware began sounding around the theater. More glassware was lost during the 1960s when glassware was broken for making mosaics or was used in other craft work.

The novice collector would do well to keep in mind; that carrying this book, or another good work filled with many color photographs, is a wise plan when browsing jumble shops or antique shops. Many of the old depression era pattern molds have been dusted off for use. During the 1990s there was a resurgence of glassware appearing, these pieces were rightly listed as reproductions.

Some of the reproduction pieces appearing in jumble shops are listed as depression era pieces and the prices charged indicate they are. Newer glass tends to be smoother, as a rule does not have the tiny bubbles which often appear in the older glass, and is produced in colors which did not appear during the depression era.

Collectors can refer to A Pocket Guide to Pink Depression Era Glass to check and see if the product appearing on the shelf is listed as part of what was produced during the depression era. Glassware today may appear as a combination of two molds of the first patterns used to produce a pretty piece which was not manufactured during the depression era; ie footed dishes which use a candle stick mold and a dinner plate mold for one.

Author Clements’ book is filled with 200+ color photographs to show-case examples of over forty of the most popular depression era patterns which were offered in pink glass. Photos don’t always portray colors exactly, however a careful perusal of the photographs provided on the pages of A Pocket Guide to Pink Depression Era Glass will guide the novice toward recognizing the patterns.

A trip or two to jumble/antique shops quickly dispels the notion that pink is pink. A wide variety of pink glass is found, and the pieces may all be depression glass. Concise histories of some of the glass companies such as Bartlett-Collins, Cambridge, Federal, Hazel-Atlas, Imperial, Westmoreland, are detailed as well. Specific patterns were produced by specific glass companies.

A Pocket Guide to Pink Depression Era Glass has been revised and expanded, the second edition offers some new photographs as well as a revised price list. However, note to novice collectors: seasoned collectors are aware that prices will vary by area where the piece is offered. Glassware found in a jumble shop in one state may be far more expensive, or less so than in another. The price list offered in the book is a guide and not a hard and fast rule for purchase of collectibles.

A Pocket Guide to Pink Depression Era Glass is a valuable guide for collector of Depression era glass and those who enjoy the beauty of pink glassware. The book offers many patterns, the colored backgrounds found on the photos tends to distort the true colors of the glass.

Pink depression glass is lovely, and much prettier than that found in the photos in the book. Prices listed in the book tend to be found more in bigger cities, west coast shops and in specialty shops. Estate sales, garage sales, dusty jumble shops often are good sources for the glassware.

A book for the novice and/or serious collector A Pocket Guide to Pink Depression Era Glass has a place on the public, personal, and home library shelf. Happy to recommend.

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Reviewed for Molly's Reviews
molly martin
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A Pocket Guide to Pink Depression Era Glass
Patricia Clements
Paperback: 140 pages
Publisher: Schiffer Publishing
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0764310089
ISBN-13: 978-0764310089
$3.18