From the late 1920's through the early 1940s, manufacturers such as Hazel Atlas Glass Company, Hocking Glass Company, Federal Glass Company, Indiana Glass Company, MacBeth-Evans Glass Company, Jeannette Glass Company, Imperial Glass Company, Lancaster Glass Company, U.S. Glass Company, and L. E. Smith Glass Company, brought a little cheer into some very dreary days by manufacturing the product we now know as Depression glass. This mass-produced molded glassware was of relatively poor quality, often exhibiting air bubbles, heavy mold marks and other flaws in the glass, yet it came in beautiful colors and patterns to suit every taste. At a time when a loaf of bread cost about a nickel, frugal shoppers could also buy a piece of Depression glass for around the same price.

Depression glass also made its way into American homes through the issuance of premiums. Sellers or manufacturers would offer a free gift with the purchase of a certain dollar amount of goods or a specific product, and penny-pinching ladies took full advantage of these freebies.

Glass was plucked from an oatmeal box one week, from a detergent box the next. Sometimes gas stations would throw in a punch bowl and cups with an oil change. Movie theaters got in on the action offering a piece of glass with a ticket to a Saturday matinee. Some businesses would give away one piece of glassware to each customer just for coming in the door..

Another category of "Depression era" glass, usually handmade with more care and thus higher quality, is more accurately labeled "Elegant Glass", as produced by such companies as Westmoreland Glass Company, Imperial Glass Company, Fostoria Glass Company, A. H. Heisey & Company, and others. An easy way to compare the difference in color quality is to take a look at a piece of cobalt Elegant Glass and place it alongside a piece of cobalt Depression Glass. The intensity of the former piece is quite evident. Pressed Elegant Glass was fire polished to get rid of the flaws in the glass. The normal flaws found in pressed glass - straw marks, raised seams, etc. were removed. The base of bowls, platters, etc. was ground so it would sit evenly on a table. Many patterns of Elegant Glass were embellished with acid etching, cutting, enamel decoration, gold encrustation, platinum and gold trim.

Elegant Glass was sold in the finer stores, never given away. It was also marketed as wedding patterns. It was offered as an alternative to china and crystal which were still imported due to manufacturing costs and were incredibly expensive. Many consumers purchased Elegant Glass and placed it on display, only using it for very special occasions.

Due to its popularity as a collectible, authentic Depression glass is gradually becoming more scarce on the open market, although auction sites such as ebay have revealed large quantities of pieces in various patterns that had previously been unavailable to the average collector with only local or regional antique shops and flea markets to browse through for finds. Some manufacturers continued to make the most popular glass patterns after World War II, or introduced similar patterns, which are also collectible.

Some of the most common pieces in a plentiful pattern may sell for only a few dollars, but rare pieces in certain patterns can sell for hundreds of dollars at depression glass shows. Some Depression pieces are hard to classify as to the exact pattern name, or might be called "generic" pieces, such as some rather plain-looking sugar bowls, salt shakers, ashtrays or other items that don’t seem to match any photos in depression glass price guidebooks

The most popular colors with collectors today are pink in varying hues, cobalt blue and green. Some of the most popular patterns buyers seek today are Cameo, Mayfair, American Sweetheart, Princess and Royal Lace. Even the pattern names alluded to better times and a longing for the glamorous lifestyles of the 1920s.

Illustrations from top to bottom:
Cameo Depression Glass Green 6 Inch Sherbet Plate Hocking Ballerina Dancing Girl
Princess pink depression glass 1930s vintage Anchor Hocking plates & cups
imperial glass depression footed ashtray