Today when I browsed my favorite depression glass guidebook I came across Primo, also called Paneled Aster, one of the US Glass patterns from the early depression years. Like most US Glass patterns – US Swirl, Floral and Diamond Band, Cherryberry, Strawberry – Primo pieces have a lot of mold roughness. Apparently the molds left extra glass to protrude in the seams that tend to get nicked.
Primo is hard to find. In fact we have never owned a piece and I’ve seen it only a couple of times at depression glass shows or with a collector. US Glass made a basic dinnerware set in green and yellow.
You might find plates, cups and saucers, sherbet, tumbler, creamer and sugar and a serving bowl, 2-handled hostess tray and 3-footed cake plate. Apparently there is no oval platter or pitcher or shakers. Also US Glass made a coaster ashtray that fits the tumbler but has no pattern.
Look for a grill plate and dinner plate and if you really want to push your luck, try to find a grill plate that has a cup ring! Gene Florence mentions he has seen this piece in green only.
Primo could be a fun pattern if you are looking for something challenging that won’t send you to the poor house. Florence gives prices ranging from $11 for a cup and saucer to $25 for a dinner plate and $75 for the three-footed serving bowl. Bear in mind these prices are from a 2010 book and prices vary. For comparison Replacements offers the yellow cream soup for $18.
Ebay sellers have several tumblers, cake plates, grill plates, cups in yellow and a few pieces, mostly cake plates, in green. I didn’t see any creamers or sugars today. There are a few pieces listed on Etsy too, including the somewhat hard to find sherbet. Prices on both sites seem in line with Florence’s estimates.