Posts About Fruits Depression Glass
Hazel Atlas Fruits Depression Glass Pattern and a Mystery Piece
How to Store Your Glass Plates Safely – Shows a Fruits Saucer with Stacking Wear
Fruits Basic Information
Hazel Atlas made their Fruits pattern from 1931 to 1935, mostly in green or pink with a few pieces in crystal or iridescent. Other glass companies including Federal, made similar patterns, and Federal likely made iridescent tumblers with pears. I have seen only green plus a piece or two of iridescent.
The green plate at the top of the page is typical. Pieces are round, rather plain with subtle panels in the rim and a few fruit bunches scattered around. Pieces often have fruits in the center as does the plate. You may notice the pattern is not easy to see in the photo and this is typical. The design is soft and is easy to overlook.
This cup has grapes on one side and cherries on the other. Notice it has the same narrow panels as the plate.
The saucer is hard to see but if you look closely there are grapes and pears and cherries (and likely more) on the rim and cherries in the center.
This iridescent tumbler is probably not from Hazel Atlas and has small clusters of mixed fruits around the rim. It was even harder to photograph!
Pieces of Fruits Depression Glass Available
Hazel Atlas made a basic, small luncheon set plus pitcher and several tumblers in green Fruits. There is no pitcher and only two tumblers in pink Fruits. Both colors have a single 8 inch plate, a small berry bowl about 4 1/2 inches across, and a larger serving bowl, cup, saucer and sherbet. There are a juice and a 5 inch, 12 ounce tumbler and 4 inch tumbler in green and only the 4 inch size in pink.
We saw only a few pieces shopping at estate sales, antique malls and fairs over 20 years, so it likely depends on your location what you will see in person. You might want to check online. On eBay I saw several listings for green plates, cups and saucers and a couple listings for bowls or tumblers and almost no listings for pink Fruits. There were a few listings for iridescent tumblers like the one I show above.
The commonly found pieces – plates, cups and saucers – are inexpensive for depression glass while the hard to find ones are more costly. Fruits is not among the most popular patterns.
If you decide to collect this pretty pattern you may want to contact a depression glass dealer and ask directly. The NDGA.net site (National Depression Glass Association) has dealers’ advertisements.
Damage Concerns
The raised panels or subtle ribs on Fruits plates wear easily if you stack them. The iridescent tumbler I had was chipped, but the other pieces were fine. Hold the glass up to the light to check for wear and do the usual touch tests for nicks and you should be fine.
Concerned about reproductions? Don’t be. Fruits has not been reproduced although as noted Hazel Atlas is not the only company that made a Fruits-like pattern. I think (not sure) that the tumblers are the only iridescent pieces to be aware of that are likely from Federal or other makers besides Hazel Atlas. Patterns like Fruits that lack a large fan base are not good targets for the fake scammers.
All in all, Fruits is a pretty pattern that could make a fun beverage or simple dessert set.