July 18th, 2010 @ Kathy // 9 Comments
Let’s talk about one of the painful subjects around depression glass, reproductions. Fakes, remakes, reissues, reproductions, there are many words to describe these. Although there are some legitimate re-issues, especially where the manufacture labels their glass, there are too many that are simply rip offs.
One pattern that was reissued was Madrid. Federal Glass made Madrid depression glass mostly in amber, blue and some pink, green and other colors during the depression. They reissued Madrid for the American bicentennial and marked each piece with a “76″ in the design by the edge. Then Federal Glass went out of business in the late 1970s and sold their molds to Indiana.
Indiana Glass has re-issued several patterns of their own and they added Federal’s Madrid to their line up. They reissued Madrid in pink, amber and a light aqua blue plus clear and called it “Recollection”. None of the pieces is marked in any way to distinguish it from the original depression era glassware but you can spot most of the reproductions by the color, feel or shape. The bowl shown in this video fails the “real depression glass” test in two ways, by color and by shape.
I hope this is helpful. Please leave me a comment so I know what you think.
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Tags: Collecting Depression Glass, Depression Glass, Federal Glass, Telling Repros from Real Glass
Bill
1 year ago
Thank you so much for posting this, Kathy. I’ve told you before that I prefer Elegant Glass over Depression pieces. I think that’s partly because, when I was a kid, I remember my mother saying she’d be afraid to buy “vintage” Depression glass out of fear of being tricked into buying a reproduction. It’s easy for me to tell Fostoria “American” from Whitehall and Imperial “Cape Cod” from peanut butter glass. Depression glass is still a mystery to me — thanks to you, it’s slightly less of one!
Thank you again. Hope the rest of your week gues well.
Warmest regards,
Bill
Tranquility Cea
1 year ago
I have a question if you don’t mind. I purchased the ’76 Madrid pattern and I have read elsewhere that the ’76 was a “Recollection” by Federal. You are saying that the term “Recollection” is used with later Indiana manufacturing. I understand that the ’76 pattern was made by Federal near the end of its time in the 70’s and was under the impression that the “Recollection” of the Madrid was introduced for the Bicentennial , but I would like a clearer picture of the terms issued/reissued & “Recollection” as to how they relate to each manufacture.
If you can help clear this up I would be grateful. I would like to sell my 12 settings of 5pc. Amber ’76 Madrid, but I want to be clear to the buyer of Madrid history is since this set is truly not Depression Glass.
Please help if you can.
Thanks,
TC
Kathy
1 year ago
Hi. I’ll send a more complete note to your email address. Federal made the 76 marked glass before they went out of business and called their bicentennial pattern Recollection.
Frances
1 year ago
excellent – thanks – I purchased a repo-pink nesting chicken(fully aware that it was a repo) and about a month later found the same chicken at an antique store for 100% more than what I paid and questioned the dealer who ‘insisted’ it was real… so, did I get a ‘good’ deal from Zellers or what?
Beverly
1 year ago
Will you answer a question? Is anyone making reproductions of American Sweetheart?? I have a couple of pieces that are a little darker and thicker and wonder if they are reproductions.
Thanks.
Kathy
1 year ago
Thank you for asking. American Sweetheart has not been reproduced. This was depression glass so there was some variability. I believe the earlier pieces were more opalescent and the later ones a little thicker and opaque. I have seen the thicker pieces too. Isn’t it great when you don’t have to worry about repros. Please consider posting a photo of your glass on our Facebook sharing page. It’s at http://www.DepressionGlassFun.com
Lynette
1 year ago
Hi Kathy,
It seems that have the same type of dishes as “Tranquility Cea” above. My mom gave them to me a few years before she passed away. I’ve had them packed away and recently decided to get them out of storage and use them. I have a 5 pc place setting for 8 (in the amber color) . Mine also have the ’76 on them. Is it accurate that they were reproduced in 1976 for the bicentennial and were part of Federal’s “Recollection” series?
Also, it appears that I have one amber dinner plate that I believe is the Patrician pattern. How can I tell if this is actual depression glass or a reproduction (if there were any)?
I would just like to have more info, if you would be so kind.
Thank you!
Kathy
1 year ago
Thank you for asking. Yes, if your Madrid has the 76 then Federal made it for the bicentennial and they did call that reissue “Recollection”. Indiana continued the Recollection line without the 76 marking.
If you have Patrician then you don’t need to worry about repros since it has not been reproduced.
Your Madrid table sounds wonderful. If you would like, you are most welcome to post a photo of your set on our sharing page at http://www.DepressionGlassFun.com. I had a customer who set their Thanksgiving table with mixed settings of Madrid, Patrician and Normandie, all in amber. It looked great and I bet yours does too.
Shirl
1 year ago
Hi Kathy,
I have recently bought several pieces of Hocking Open Lace/Old Colony/Lace Edge on EBay that appear to be either a reproductions or one that has been ground smooth on the top part of the lace edge. The Lace is flat instead of being rounded and seems lighter than others that I have. Are reproductions being made?