After several years of buying, selling, and studying colored glassware of the Depression era, I am amazed at what some people call Depression Glass. Depression Glass that is truly collectable and valuable is the colored glassware made primarily during the Depression era in colors of amber, blue, black, crystal, green, pink, red, yellow, and white. Manufactured from the late 1920s through 1940. Most of this dinnerware was inexpensively made and turned out by machine in bulk and sold at smaller stores or given away as premium items with products such as flour, gas cereal, etc.

There were several glass companies with each one making several different patterns of the glass. In 1976 a company made a reproduction of the “Madrid” pattern, a very good copy and they did inprint 76 on each piece so it was easily identifiable. Since that time good and bad reproductions have been made of several of the original Depression patterns. This has been bad for true collectors of the glassware and has caused novice collectors to buy cheap imtations.

Several good books have been written on this glassware, buy them and study before buying. There are numerous glass shows around the country, attend one, check out the glass, talk to knowledgeable dealers, buy only from reputable glass dealers that have been in the business for a long time. Collecting can be fun and exciting.

Ebay has made collecting Depression Glass easier than ever before. You will be able to find “Rare” pieces, enough to complete sets, some wonderful finds, but you need to know your glassware.