Image: Candy Jar with Lid. Federal Glass Company. 1935-1939. The Corning Museum of Glass, Gift of Donald S. Hall. 80.4.25.
Definition
The definition from the Glass Dictionary, a part of All About Glass on The Corning Museum of Glass website reads:
Inexpensive, machine-pressed American glassware made between about 1920 and 1950.
Characteristics
Depression glass comes in many colors and patterns, but they share many of these characteristics. Depression glass...
- was produced in multiple colors although pink, green, and yellow were popular.
- was inexpensive when originally purchased.
- was mass produced.
- was often given away at events or by businesses as a gift, incentive, or prize.
- often has imperfections such as rough edges or prominent seams,
- often imitates more expensive handmade etched or cut crystal.
Learn More
Collector's Books and Guides
- Florence, Cathy Gaines., and Gene Florence. Elegant Glassware of the Depression Era : Identification and Value Guide /. 13th ed. Paducah, Ky: Collector Books, 2009.
- Mauzy, Barbara E., and Jim. Mauzy. Mauzy’s Depression Era Kitchen Glass /. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Pub., 2006.
- Mauzy, Barbara E., and Jim. Mauzy. Mauzy’s Depression Glass : a Photographic Reference with Prices /. Rev. and expanded 7th ed. Atglen, Pa: Schiffer, 2011.
- Schroy, Ellen Tischbein, and Pam Meyer. Warman’s Depression Glass Handbook : Identification, Values, Pattern Guide /. Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2017.
- Yeske, Doris. Depression Glass : Collections and Reflections : a Guide with Values /. Rev. & expanded 2nd ed. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Pub. Ltd., 2002.
Online Articles
- Cooper, Megan. The Colorful History of Depression Glass and Its Continued Popularity. My Modern Met, July 8, 2020, mymodernmet.com/depression-glass.
- Ward, Beth. The Depression-Era Glassware That Came in Boxes of Oatmeal. Atlas Obscura, April 26, 2018, www.atlasobscura.com/articles/depression-era-glassware-colorful.
- Witte, Rae. A Short History of Depression Glass. Architectural Digest, July 28, 2020, www.architecturaldigest.com/story/depression-glass-history.
Videos
- Frist Art Museum. "How Depression glass became a part of the Art Deco movement." Youtube, December 8, 2021. 0:00:47. https://youtu.be/zYc6Nxh8glo.
Clubs, Groups, and Organizations
The Rakow Research Library will lend designated books from its collection and will send copies of articles on request from other libraries. Your local school, public, academic or special library can request items through the OCLC WorldShare Interlibrary Loan (ILL) system or by direct request through email at ill@cmog.org. For more information, please see our ILL policy: (http://www.cmog.org/research/library/visit/services/loan).
A more extensive list of resources is available upon request. Please let us know if we can be of further assistance via the Ask a Glass Question form or by email (rakow@cmog.org) or phone (607-438-5300).
