Depression Glass

Guide Note

Depression Glass is classified as low quality, yet aesthetically pleasing collections of glassware that were distributed free or at low cost in the United States during the Great Depression. The clear glassware was produced in molds in a variety of patterns and colors, the most common of which were pink, green, blue, amber, red, yellow, and crystal.

Fast Facts

1. Most depression glass was made in the central and mid-west United States
2. Most popular color was rose pink
3. Most popular style pattern was "carnival"
4. Now highly collectible: Some pieces sell for hundreds of dollars
5. An estimated 150,000 American collectors

During the Great Depression, people were naturally very frugal with their money and unlikely to spend it on anything other than essential items. Many corporations would include pieces of depression glass in boxes of food as an incentive for people to choose their product over another and some businesses would hand glassware to anyone who walked in the door.

Also commonly sold in dime stores, a piece of depression glassware could be purchased for about the same price as a loaf of bread, allowing Americans to enjoy a glimpse of their former affluence of the "Roaring Twenties" without having to spend extravagantly.