Block Optic – Another Depression Glass Pattern with Lots of Choices

It used to be we found Block Optic at every flea market and antique mall, but lately it’s been a bit scarce.  It’s a fun pattern, enjoyable to collect with many pieces in pretty colors and it won’t break the bank.  Hocking Glass made Block Optic from 1929 to 1933 in green, topaz yellow, pink and some clear.  Just for fun they frosted some of the green pieces, giving them a lovely satin finish that begs to be held.

Green is the most common, with yellow and pink right behind. Crystal is less common and less popular. Oddly, we’ve had several of the frosted cup and saucer sets. We got four sets at an antique fair way back when I had no clue what I was doing, and another few sets a couple years ago on Craigslist. The Craigslist guy was selling his aunt’s green glass which included the creamer above and several other frosted Block Optic pieces.

The saucers are actually uncommon. The small 6 inch sherbet liner plate is the same size and most people must have used that plate as a saucer. You’ll see 10 or 20 plates for every saucer.  I think we had one or two transparent green saucers, but several frosted ones.  It’s fun to speculate why you’ll find the odd combinations with vintage glass.  Did Hocking job out the frosted decorations?  Or were the cup and saucer sets a premium? After 80 years we’ll probably never know the answers, but that doesn’t stop us wondering.

One problem with satin glass is it can get a funny white patch like these sherbets (which also were from Craigslist.)

You might even find frosted Block Optic decorated with painted flowers or gold bands. Those decorations tended to wear poorly and most pieces have faint designs now.

Hocking made every piece in green and it’s a very pretty green.  Green depression glass always reminds me of green crayons from grade school, a pure, clean green that’s neither blue nor yellow.  The yellow is also very pretty and a table blending the colors would be gorgeous!