Depression glass Pineapple and Floral dinner plates by Indiana Glass. The colorless Pineapple and Floral items were made in 1932 to 1937.
During the Depression glass years (1930’s to early 1940’s) it was necessary to find a way to make glass less expensive for the cash starved consumer. Due to World War II some essential glass making materials were impossible to procure and expensive. Lead, a major ingredient in authentic glass, was preserved for war making. The quality of glass suffered during these years, but took on a collectible quality that sets it apart today.
The most well-known type of Depression glass was used as a premium at movie theaters, grocery stores (inside boxes and bags of food items) and other free-bee methods of distribution. It was also sold at five and dime stores. According to the Glass Encyclopedia;
“Sometimes the quality of the glass was less than perfect. Often there were mold flaws. Sometimes the straw on which the hot glass was set to cool would leave an indentation called a “straw mark” in the glass. Unless the flaw is major it doesn’t affect the value or beauty of the glass and still consider the glass to be perfect.”
The swirl pattern was made by many elegant makers of the 1920s-1940s. This lovely box may have been made by Imperial Glass or Duncan Miller Glass. Circa 1930’s-1940’s.
Another type of glass from this period is known as “Elegant Depression Glass”, offered by companies like Cambridge, Tiffin, New Martinsville and many more. Elegant Depression glass may have straw marks, but the quality of the glass is clearly better than the more familiar type of very inexpensive Depression glass.
Authentic Depression glass is widely collected and preserved. It was produced all over the world. Colored Depression glass is favored, especially pink. Beware, Depression glass has been reproduced in nearly every pattern and reproduction continues to this day. It is possible today to collect vintage reproductions of Depression glass.
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Abridged Version 2.1 – Copyright 2015 – All Rights Reserved
