During the Great Depression, inexpensively made glassware was distributed for free, or a nominal fee, throughout the country. These pieces have since been dubbed “Depression glass.” While most of the pieces are of marginal quality, their place in American history makes them highly sought-after collectibles today. Here are some of the most coveted patterns straight from the Midwest, the epicenter of Depression glass.
$1,050
The “Flying Lady Bowl” from the Statuesque Seashell Line by the Cambridge Glass Factory comes with a tale as lovely as its rare frosted finish. As the story goes when a circus visited the small glass-manufacturing town of Cambridge, Ohio in the 1930s, a certain female trapeze artist mesmerized her audience. To commemorate her special visit, they introduced a line of “Flying Lady Bowls.” The name endured the test of time as did the nine-inch-tall fruit bowls’ inimitable, and therefore invaluable, craftsmanship. Available at Green Country Estates.
$100
This Royal Lace nut bowl features a lace-like etching, one of the most popular Depression glass patterns. The delicate bowl was manufactured by the Hazel Atlas Glass Company located in West Virginia and Ohio between 1934 and 1941. Its intricate details—most notably the floral design surrounding a large centered six-point star—make Royal Lace a must-have collector’s item. In the very popular cobalt blue, this 10-inch bowl is the most rare piece in the Royal Lace pattern. Available at Depression Glass Antiques.
$100
The Laced Edge pattern, commonly known as “Katy Blue,” was produced by the Imperial Glass Company in Bellaire, Ohio from the early 1930s into the 1950s. The bottom of this candleholder is not solid. Instead it has large lace-like openings, for which it’s named. This feature makes it one of the most collected Depression glass patterns made by Imperial. With its acorn-shaped base and two pronged holders, this amber-colored four-and-a-half-inch-tall piece is undoubtedly the most unconventional. Available at Depression-glass.net.
[Photography courtesy of Green Country Estates (top), Depression Glass Antiques (middle), and Depression-glass.net (bottom).]
Published on February 18, 2010
While there are many sites today dedicated to the pursuit of fashion and style, here at MRK Style we approach these subjects through a collector’s lens. Through exploring how people relate to Art, Family, Fashion, Food, Film and Travel—essentially life’s various, everyday obsessions—we reflect on how we all live with the things we love. 
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