Do You Like Depression Glass? Blog is on a New Website

Hi everyone. First let me apologize for not getting this post out much much sooner.

This blog is moved to a new address at Depression and Elegant Glass to Share, www.DepressionElegantGlass.com.

Hocking Glass Mayfair Depression Glass

This pitcher is Mayfair pink depression glass by Hocking. This pattern has vertical ribs and wide panels with open roses grouped in a bouquet. Many pieces are square as is this pitcher.Hocking made Mayfair for several years, 1931 to 1937, and in a soft blue plus some green, yellow and clear in addition to the pink. The blue is very scarce and I've seen only a couple pieces. It is a soft blue, not cobalt.

A few pieces of Mayfair have been reproduced, notably the pitcher, shot glass, shakers and cookie jar. The handle on the pitcher shown here is a smooth curve that comes horizontally off the body. The repro handles are odd shaped. Also, the base on the originals have round mold marks with the repros lack.

Good depression glass books will give details on how to tell repros from originals. Often the repros will be poorly molded or be strange colors that were never made

Pillar Optic Depression Glass

Does this look familiar? This is Pillar Optic pink depression glass by Hocking. The pattern is on the outside, so it does not qualify as an optic. (Optics have a molded design on the interior.) The panels are straight and slightly rounded to the touch. The top inch or so is smooth, making it good to drink out of.

You can tell this apart from Fortune by the fact the vertical panels are convex and all the same size. This is easier to see in person than in a photo.

This is one of those basic depression glass patterns that comes in pink and green and you can buy pitchers and tumblers rather inexpensively. Pillar Optic is a good pattern to consider if you are looking to start a set or if you want glass that you can enjoy using without worrying too much.

Plates are a little harder to spot than tumblers. The plates have the same convex panels, but they are set in a circle, like rays. There is a Hazel Atlas pattern, New Century, that is a little similar but can be told apart by concentric rings in the center of the New Century plate and more concentric rings between the rows of panels.