Floragold Louisa Iridescent Depression Glass Sherbet

Here is a riddle for you.  What do you call a sherbet that’s iridescent and has mold etched flowers all over?  This is Floragold from Jeannette Glass.

Floragold fans seem split whether this is depression glass or carnival glass or glass from the 1950s.  Here’s why.

• Pattern Motif:  Flowers all over.  Depression Glass style.
• Glass technique:  Mold etched.  Depression Glass technique. (The design is raised on the glass surface.)
• Color:  Iridescent.  Carnival.
• Heft and feel:  1950s
• Production date:  1950s
• Nickname:  Louisa after an early carnival pattern.

Way back when I first started in business a local collector sold me a ton of glass.  She had everything – an incredible collection – and sold me over 25 banana boxes filled with glass.  One of the patterns was Floragold.  At one time I had a superior collection including plates, cups, saucers, tumblers, accessory pieces galore.

When I bought her Floragold the pattern was beginning to lose popularity.  It was almost unsalable for a few years but recently carnival glass is making a come back and the later 1950s iridescent glass is riding the trend too.  I got out a few pieces and took better photos and will get them listed again.

Floragold pieces are interesting.  Most are square with curved sides or if they are round like the sherbet then the foot is square.  There are a gazillion bowls, several ruffled and some plain.  You can find tumblers easily, but be aware Jeannette made tumblers with a smooth top and tumblers with a band.  (One of the really cute pieces is an oblong oval small bowl with four feet that I’ll show this week for Fancy Friday.)

Most Floragold is pretty reasonable.  The ruffled bowls are downright cheap, under $10 or so.  Even tumblers are around $12, almost unheard of for vintage glass in a collectible pattern.  Cereal bowls, salad bowls, big torte plates are the more expensive pieces.

Whether you call this depression glass, carnival glass or what, Floragold is pretty stuff!

Shopping Information:  We carry Floragold in our store Cat Lady Kate’s Elegant and Depression Glass.

Jeannette Petal Swirl Teal Ultramarine Depression Glass Low Bowl

Remember a few years back when teal was THE color? It’s perennially popular and it’s a good choice since it goes well with so many shades of blue, cream and green  (Try adding a touch of teal to spice up peach and antique  gold too.)  Jeannette Glass made quite a few patterns in their teal depression glass.  They called their color Ultra Marine and used it for Swirl, as in the bowl shown here, Doric and Pansy and their Jennyware kitchen glass.

My favorite of these is Swirl, also called Petal Swirl.  I like the simple design and pretty shapes and the color just adds so much to the glass without over powering the pattern.  You can find a smallish set fairly easily and it won’t break the bank as Swirl is one of the moderate priced patterns.

Some of the neat Petal Swirl pieces are the bowl and candle holder, vase and cute shakers.  Although Swirl is thought to be rather common I have not seen it in person more than a couple times and I bought all that was available when I did find it.  That’s why we have some listed today in our store, including the dinner plates and this nice sized salad bowl.

Do you have a favorite Ultra Marine pattern?  Leave a comment and let me know.

Shopping Information:  Our Jeannette Swirl depression glass is available in our store Cat Lady Kate’s Elegant and Depression Glass.

Doric Pink Depression Glass Candy Jar from Jeannette

We all have candy hanging around the house this time of year so where can you put it?  If you leave it out in a bowl it gets stale and if you put it in the bag in the cupboard it will slowly migrate to the back.  This candy jar from Jeannette Glass is the perfect solution.

This depression glass pattern is called Doric.  The motif is simple:  There is a band of squares about an inch below the rim with plain squares alternating with classic design squares.  Even the finial on the candy jar lid has the alternating squares.

Jeannette made Doric from 1935 to 1938 in pink, green and Delphite.  Delphite is opaque blue.  This is one of the less expensive pink depression glass patterns with mold etched designs and there are many pieces to seek if  you choose to collect this glassware.

Imagine using this on your shelf or giving it as a fantastic Valentines’s Day present.  It’s perfect for your sweetheart.

Jeannette's Floral Poinsettia Pink Depression Glass Candleholder

Here’s a depression glass pattern that has a bit of controversy about the design.  This is Jeannette’s Floral, which is nicknamed Poinsettia.  The design is big flowers and pointed leaves with multiple lobes, supposedly that looks like a poinsettia.

My depression glass reference mentions there’s been a disagreement over the years whether this is really a poinsettia.  The leaves don’t look much like our modern poinsettias, that’s for sure.

Other observers have pointed out that the 4-part pointy leaves look like hemp plants and that the flowers look like passion flowers.  I can’t comment on the first but the passion flowers don’t quite fit either.

Floral – regardless what it’s supposed to be – is a neat pattern that came in many interesting pieces such as this candleholder.  It’s a relatively affordable pattern, even in pink, and you’ll find cone-shaped footed tumblers for under $25.

Right now we have the Floral pink sugar, candle and tumblers in stock.

Jeannette Gass Cherry Blossom Pink Depression Glass Butter Dish with Lid

Quick! What is pink and beautiful with flowers all over? Jeannette’s Cherry Blossom depression glass, that’s what. Cherry Blossom was made through most of the depression, 1930 to 1939, an unusually long time. 

It is a very pretty pattern with some highly unusual and rare pieces.  According to Gene Florence’sCollector’s Encyclopedia of Depression Glass there have been only two authentic pink salt and pepper shaker sets ever confirmed – although you can find shakers listed online. It was such a popular pattern that during the 1970s several companies made reproduction pieces. It’s always worrisome to buy something when you fear it might be a reproduction, but there has been enough research published to help all of us find and enjoy the real depression glass.

The Cherry Blossom pink butter dish with lid shown here can be authenticated by the fact the lid has two narrow bands around the skirt.  This is shown in the next photo.   If you choose to collect Cherry Blossom you would be wise to buy one or two good depression glass books and become familiar with the various reproductions.  Most are easily told but there are some pieces that are harder to distinguish.