Hazel Atlas made Ovide in transparent green, black and white Platonite and Platonite with intriguing decorations from 1930 to 1935, then in the 1940s and 50s in solid colors over Platonite. This creamer is depression glass.
The creamer shows the design. Shapes are rounded, simple, creamers and sugars are footed with short stems and cups have small feet. Plates are round stepped down rims, bowls have rims.
For comparison, here is a later, solid color Platonite cup and saucer to show the shapes you’ll see in other pieces. Notice the rim on the inside of the cup has a definite bottom to it.
When we bought glass I used to see a green depression glass Ovide creamers and sugars at antique malls and especially antique fairs, but I do not recall seeing the plates, cups or sherbets.
During the depression Hazel Atlas made basic luncheon pieces in transparent green – but no bowls or serving pieces – and the same in black with the addition of a small berry bowl. They made more pieces in Platonite, including a tumbler, serving bowls and platter, and berry and cereal bowls. You may find a covered candy dish and salt and pepper shakers in green, black and Platonite.
The decorations on Platonite can be striking. One popular has black and red circles with black vertical bars and black rims, Art Deco style. I’ve never seen this although my Florence depression glass book shows this attractive design.
Ovide might look familiar to you if you like Cloverleaf as both shapes are identical; Cloverleaf has a mold-etched design around the rim while Ovide is plain. You could probably augment Cloverleaf with Ovide if you want since colors and shapes are similar.
If you like Ovide you might enjoy shopping antique malls or antique fairs and flea markets. I noticed quite a few green creamer and sugar sets, most not identified as Ovide. I do not recall seeing black or the depression-era decorated Platonite although the later Platonite was quite easy to find in central Michigan. Transparent green creamers, sugars and sherbets are easy to find on eBay.
This solid, plain glassware is quite sturdy although you should watch out for scratches on plates. Plain patterns like this show wear more than do patterns with designs in them.
Next post we’ll look at some of the solid Platonite Ovide glass made after the depression, in the 1940s, 50s and 60s.