I found this Cherry Blossom sherbet hiding in a box of Jeannette depression glass. Way back in 2001, when I’d been working with glass for about two years, Dave and I attended an estate auction. The lady had been an avid depression glass collector and occasional seller. She had glass galore!
I got quite a few pieces of American Sweetheart, lots of Columbia, Mayfair. And a bunch of Cherry Blossom. The problem was that some of the Cherry Blossom pieces were fakes. Once I got the glass home, cleaned it up and got the books out, I realized that a couple plates and tumblers were reproductions. I sorted out the good stuff for sale, but what do you do with fakes?
One choice was to trash the reproductions, another choice was to donate them to the local Salvation Army. It was hard to decide since I didn’t want someone else to get burnt by fakes nor for someone unscrupulous to buy them and sell as authentic. Another factor was that the real pieces were costly. I ended up putting stickers on each piece stating they were reproductions and donating. That way someone who just wanted a piece of pretty glass but couldn’t afford the real thing could get them.
Anyway, back to the sherbet. All my glass is stored in bubble bags and at first glance, a sherbet-in-a-bubble-bag looks just like a cup-in-the-same-bubble-bag. It’s been hiding for twelve years! It’s time for it to find a new home.
Cherry Blossom was one of the most popular patterns for years until people got frightened by the fakes. Now that we have books and online sites that help spot reproductions, we can be less afraid of problem pieces and once more enjoy our favorite patterns.
Jeannette made only one size of sherbet, and although they made several sizes of tumblers, there is no goblet or other stemware in Cherry Blossom. There is only one size but there are three style variations in the sherbet.
Cherry Blossom Pink Depression Glass Sherbet
Take a good look at the foot on this sherbet. You can see it’s scalloped and the pattern doesn’t extend to the edges. Jeannette made at least three different sherbets, one with a smooth rim and pattern all over the foot, a scalloped one with all over pattern, and this one. It’s authentic depression glass. (In fact I don’t think the sherbets have been reproduced.)
Have you ever bought glass that turned out to be fake? What did you do with it? Leave a comment and let us know.