Alana's Vintage Glassware has been collecting vintage glassware for over ten years. We offer a large selection of vintage and some retired collector pieces of yesteryear. Included in our store are Carnival Glassware, Milk Glass, Depression Glass, Red Wing, McCoy, Hull, Hall, Ballerina, Crystal, Ruby Reds, Cobalts, Royal Copley, Royal Haegar, Pyrex, Fire King, Frankoma, Precious Moments, retired Avon bottles, milk and perfume bottles, old pop bottles, collector plates, salt pepper shakers, cup saucer matching sets and much more.
With so many questions as to what Depression glass really is, it is important to learn the history behind Depression glass so you can get a true understanding of the beautiful glass and why we value it so much. Traveling back in time to the Great Depression you will understand the importance of Depression glass and why it was made.
The Great Depression was a tough time for the entire country. Those who experienced it already know that it was one of the hardest things that they ever went through. For the people who didn't lose their jobs, they were forced to work for almost nothing, and had to live many years raising their families with barely two pennies to scrape together. The Great Depression lasted from 1929 to the beginning of World War II, and through that time manufacturers such as Hocking Glass and Federal Glass were determined to bring some cheer into the otherwise disheartening lives of so many Americans. They did this by bringing us what is now known as Depression glass.
Depression glass was poorly made mass produced glassware that came in a variety of beautiful and bright colors as well as clear crystal. Essentially it is a transparent glassware that was actually starting to be made in the mid-20's, It was before The Depression that glassware was a huge seller, and many painstakingly long hours were put into the glass. From hand drawn pictures, to special cuts, the glassware was a piece of art. However, once The Depression came about, glassware companies were interested in staying away from bankruptcy then handing out quality pieces of glass. This continued as The Depression got worse, and then as it got better. Depression glassware was produced well into the 1950's in fact.
The colors were vibrant, and game in patterns of gold, platinum, cobalt blue, amber, pink, yellow, green, and pretty much any color that you can imagine. Certain colors fared better than others like tangerine, and lavender. They were discontinued after their short run, only to be replaced by the colors that people loved such as yellow and cobalt. Once the glassware was made, it went through virtually no treatment whatsoever. It was simply sold and during the Great Depression, it was actually given away as a promotional item. They would appear almost everywhere, from cereal boxes to a movie theater in order to get people to buy a product. Rarely did it work, since Americans were so poor, but they did enjoy going to events where they could get another cup or plate for free. Although The Depression eventually ended, the love of this beautiful glass sure did not. Although not used in homes on a regular basis, people still love to find and get a look at this popular glass. Often bought and sold as collector's items, Depression glass will still stand for the time in which the country was at its worst.