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Depression glass is so called because collectors generally associate mass-produced glassware in pink, yellow, crystal, and green with the Great Depression in America.
What is the story behind depression glass?
Depression glass refers specifically to glass produced between the mid-1920s to about the end of World War II. Nearly all Depression glass was produced in or near the Ohio River Valley, with about 20 companies producing approximately 100 different patterns during the period.
What color of depression glass is most valuable?
Pink glass is most valuable, followed by blue and green. Rare colors such as tangerine and lavender are also worth more than common colors like yellow and amber. If you stumble upon an extremely rare piece like the red ruby Aladdin Beehive Lamp, expect to pay $800 or more!.
How can you tell if depression glass is real?
Look for tiny bubbles on the surface of the glass. Check the piece very closely, and look at it from all angles. If it is a real piece of depression glass, there will be a scattering of small bubbles. The bubbles are about the size of a full stop at the end of a sentence.
Can you eat off of depression glass?
We do know from lead crystal that minerals can leach out of glass into food and then into bodies when the food is eaten. Myself, I wouldn’t eat off depression glass, but wouldn’t have a problem keeping it to enjoy it’s beauty.
Is carnival glass and Depression glass the same thing?
Identification. Both carnival and depression glass are colored. However, carnival glass features an iridescent, multicolored look, whereas depression glass has more of a simple, single-colored, transparent look. Carnival glass was made to inexpensively mimic glass made by the Tiffany Company.
Why is it called Vaseline glass?
A: Vaseline glass is a specific type of uranium glass. It got its name from its distinctive yellowish color, which looks like petroleum jelly. It is also sometimes referred to as canary glass because of its yellow color.
Is depression glass worth?
How Much is Depression Glass Worth? The cost of depression glass varies depending on the piece. While a plate or a glass may sell at $15 to $40, larger items can cost up to $100. Sets, on the other hand, may have a much higher price, with some going for over $200.
Is there black depression glass?
Common colors are clear (crystal), pink, pale blue, green, and amber. Less common colors include yellow (canary), ultramarine, jadeite (opaque pale green), delphite (opaque pale blue), cobalt blue, red (ruby and royal ruby), black, amethyst, monax, and white (milk glass). Some depression glass is uranium glass.
Can you microwave depression glass?
So, it’s perfectly safe to use your Depression glass as it was meant. Keep in mind this glass was made before the invention of the microwave, so you shouldn’t put it in the microwave. Heat can affect the glass, so you shouldn’t put it in the oven or on the stovetop either.
Is there blue depression glass?
Depression glass was produced in virtually every color. Yellow and amber patterns were the popular choice for the era, followed by green, blue, pink, and crystal.
Is there lead in depression glass?
Lime-soda glass was used to make most of the pressed dinnerware items in depression glass patterns. The lead glass was used to make blown items like stemware and vases. Regardless of which type of glass was being made, arsenic was added to the glass formula. That’s right – arsenic.
Is there purple depression glass?
Purple Depression glass is one of the more unusual colors of this popular collectible. Collectors love it for its rich purple tones from amethyst to deep purple. Some collectors identify the purple glass as amethyst; the terms can be used interchangeably.
Does Depression glass have uranium in it?
Based on appearance, it’s easy to confuse Uranium glass with Depression glass, but Depression glass does not have any uranium in it, so it doesn’t glow.
Why does green Depression glass glow?
Both green Depression glass and Vaseline glass will glow under a black light due to the uranium oxide content in the glass. Old Burmese glass fluoresces a similar yellow-green color. American colorless pressed glass made before 1930 is said to fluoresce yellow, while reproductions generally do not.
Is all green Depression glass uranium?
These cognoscenti might describe it as “Depression Glass,” a less desirable commodity. Perhaps the most reliable way to identify the presence of uranium in the glass is to expose it in the dark to a source of ultraviolet light (e.g., a black light). If the glass glows a rich green color, it contains uranium.
What is the rarest color of carnival glass?
According to Colleywood Carnival Glass, the following colors are among the rarest and most valuable: Fenton Ambergina – a deep orange-red tone. Northwood Marigold – a warm-toned deep yellow. Fenton Cherry Red – a dark, glowing red. Northwood Black Amethyst – a very dark purple that appears almost black.
Is green Depression glass radioactive?
Not all green Depression glass is radioactive and there are pieces that pre-date the 1930s that also contain detectable levels of radiation. Uranium glass is prized for the deep color it gives off and will glow fluorescent under a UV light. Other colors like blue, aqua, and even red have been found to contain uranium.
How can you tell if it’s Fenton glass?
To identify whether a piece of glass is Fenton glass, look for a sticker near the bottom of the item. The stickers are usually oval and may have scalloped or smooth edges. You may also see an oval with the word Fenton stamped into the glass if the piece was made after 1970.
