Federal Georgian Lovebirds Green Depression Glass Big Creamer

Depression glass is colored glass, right?  Yes, well mostly.  As we talked about recently clear depression glass has its own charms.  Clear glass aside, when we think depression glass we think colors.  And green is right up there.  I did some quick checking and 21 of the first 25 patterns I checked came in green.

The creamer on the left is Georgian by Federal Glass, also called Lovebirds.  This particular pattern has mold-etched birds and baskets and was made in green with just a bit of amber and clear production.  It is slightly more green in person than in the photo.  (Green is hard to get just right.)

Most green depression glass is crayon green.  Think back to your trusty box of crayons and the green you used for grass.  That’s green.  You will find paler and darker colors, but the green is almost always grass green.

Fenton and New Martinsville made a luscious jade green and US Glass’ green has a tinge of blueish aqua, but the vast majority is plain green.  Olive green or avocado green are later, usually 1960s-early 80s, when the darker tones were in vogue.  (Not all colored glass is depression glass!)

So, what to look for in green glass?  Personally I like the Georgian pattern shown and Patrician Spoke from Federal, Cameo from Hocking, Cherry Blossom from Jeannette and Florentine Poppy from Hazel Atlas.  Any of these would be a great pattern to collect, or consider Block Optic as a good pattern that’s available and fun, especially in green where there are so many pieces to pursue.

Green isn’t just for St Patrick’s or Christmas.  It is a cheerful color and the depression green glass blends well and plays nicely with other dishes and colored glass.

Federal Columbia Clear Depression Glass Cereal Bowl

We all know depression glass is colored glass, but if you are looking for something different then consider clear depression glass.  I’m not talking about the beautiful etched elegant glass or finely molded blanks from companies like Cambridge or Fostoria Glass.  This is the same mass-produced glassware we know best in pink or green or blue or amber.  You know, that colored stuff!

Glass companies made most of our favorite patterns in clear as well as in colors, and some patterns, like Columbia, (as in this Columbia clear depression glass bowl) are far more common in clear than in colored glass.  According to my trusty Gene Florence Collector’s Encyclopedia of Depression Glass Federal made 17 pieces of clear Columbia and only 4 of pink.

Columbia gets its looks from a bold pressed geometric design.  Other patterns, like Hazel Atlas’ Royal Lace, that have lacy flowery patterns look stunning in clear glass.  One question though.  What do we call this?  Florence calls this “crystal”, which has been the accepted term for years.  That confuses some people though, because we equate “crystal” with good glass.

Let me know, which do you call it.  And while you are at it, consider adding some clear/crystal depression glass to your collection!

Federal Glass Patrician Spoke Green 9 inch Lunch Plate

Patrician depression glass is the second or third pattern I bought when I started in glass and I’ve always liked this pattern.  I like green very much and the simple shapes and designs appeal to me.   Patrician comes in green and amber and was made during the mid-1930s.  

This is a mold-etched design, where the mold was etched with a design and then used to mass produce the glass.  You have to be careful with Patrician because that inner rim tends to chip.  This particular lunch plate is in great shape and I just listed it tonight on  eBay at www.catladykate.com and in my larger store, Cat Lady Kate’s Elegant and Depression Glass

My very first piece of depression glass was a Normandie amber dinner plate that turned out to have a chip.  I got it at an auction in 1999 when I decided that I wanted to sell glass on eBay and since I knew absolutely nothing about glass I went to the library and got books out to find out what it was.  My first piece of Patrician came labelled which was nice for the beginner.

Rosemary Amber Depression Glass Oval Serving Bowl

We live in mid-Michigan and the closest flea market is in Bay City.  It’s open every weekend from early spring to late fall and most years we’ve found excellent selection in April and May.  I’ve bought a lot of glass there in the past 8 year and the biggest challenge was to be sure the dirt was really washable dirt and not haze or something permanent.

This year we’ve gone there three times and have bought very little.  There has not been much glass and what there has been has been priced about what I can sell it for online or beat up – or both.  

There’s another big flea market twice a year a bit further away in Amish country and we went there today.  This is a neat experience even if you don’t find much to buy because it’s in the country and many people there get around by horse and buggy.  The ladies all wear warm-looking hats, dresses in plain fabric that go below their knees, black sturdy shoes and the guys wear hats and many have beards.  Some of the Amish bring their jams and hand-crafted wood and quilts so this is not your ordinary flea market.

Sad to say, we got only a few pieces of glass.  Someone had a Fostoria Vesper etched console bowl, which they had last year too,  and this year I could not say no.  And we got a couple etched candleholders and a few pieces of Federal Diana.  Most of the glass there was chipped and overpriced, for example, $28 for an Iris iridescent ruffled bowl, or $35 for a chipped Cameo cake plate.  But hey, one thing I do enjoy is buying glass.  If it was in good condition and anywhere near reasonable – I bought it!