A Walk Through The Universe: Green, Week 3

Welcome to week three of A Walk Through The Universe where I've stumbled upon some delightful new surprises...just like the most interesting kind of journey, where you start out and have no idea where you'll wind up! At some point this weekend, something I was about to close some Etsy window on my computer and just out of the corner of my eye caught an image and the term "depression glass" and it dawned on me that I really knew nothing about depression glass and became curious to know more...I started looking at some images from vintage shops on etsy and realized that much of it was green and green depression glass became the subject for this week's post. It didn't take me too long to wade through some initial images to realize the shop I wanted to investigate, stlouiselegance, which specializes in vintage glass. I corresponded with the shop owner, Jeff, who was more than generous with his response to my query about depression glass and provided  beautiful images that span the range of greens used in making this glass during the 20s into the early 40s. Jeff's explanation and images follow here. Make sure to check out his shop for an amazing variety of beautiful glass!


"I have been involved in collecting depression glass for many years. Green is one of the two most popularly collected colors in depression era glassware. Pink is the other.

Depression Era Glassware is the name given to the colored glassware that began production in the 1920's through the 1930's (in some instances continuing into the early 1940's before WWII) and can be classified into two categories: (1) the major patterns (Adam to Windsor) that were mass-produced by the Hocking Glass Company, Jeanette Glass Company, Federal Glass Company or MacBeth-Evans Glass Company, etc. and (2) Elegant Glassware of the Depression Era from the "better" glass manufacturers like Fostoria, Cambridge, Heisey and Tiffin, etc. Elegant glassware manufacturers made a finer quality product. The glass had greater clarity and, in many instances, was factory polished similar to the more expensive glassware of Tiffany and Steuben. The mass-produced glassware was quickly and inexpensively made and the edges were not factory polished before it left the factories.

As for the Depression Glass "green color spectrum", the greens range from dark Emerald or Forest Green to the typical green (Kelly Green) and all the way to chartreuse yellow Green. There is the dichotomy of the dark and pastel greens. The Fostoria Royal urn that I have listed represents the dark Emerald side of the palette, the green Federal Glass Company Patrician is the mid-point green, and I have photos of other pieces from my past sales and collections that show the chartreuse-ish side of the scale. "Light Emerald Green" Cambridge is a very luminescent color that literally glows in the sunlight. "



Images and Descriptions


Dark End of the spectrum:

The first two are the Forest Green Cambridge shaker with original label and the #646 Key Hole candle holder both etched #746, Gloria.  Both are from the 1930's and are both rare.

The third is a Cambridge #3105 Pressed Pattern Stem Rose Point sherbet with a Forest Green bowl and crystal stem. this is a very rare piece that was only in production between 1932 and 1934.

The fourth photo is of the green Fostoria Vernon etch grapefruit liner and insert set from 1927 - 1933.

Mid Point of the continuum:

The fifth is of a green Hocking Glass Company Cameo bread and butter plate with the original label. 1930 - 1934.

Sixth is the green Fostoria Palm Leaf Brocade large dessert bowl with the Mother of Pearl iridescent finish. Available in 1929 ONLY.

Progressing to the brighter increasingly luminescent side of the spectrum:

Seventh is a pair of Light Emerald Green Cambridge #646 Key Hole candlesticks etched #744, Apple Blossom. 1930 - 1934

Eighth is the Light Emerald Green Cambridge #864 Candy Box etched #731, Rosalie from the late 1920's - early 1930's

The chartreuse-ish yellowish green end of the continuum:

The last photo is of a very RARE Hocking Glass Company Mayfair plate in green. Production of this color was probably limited only to the early years of the offering of this pattern which was between 1931 - 1937.

So interesting!  Jeff is quite a passionate collector! I admire anyone who has such a deep interest and knowledge of the history of their field and I very much appreciate his generosity in sharing so much information for this post! Hope you'll visit stlouiselegance.