DEPRESSION GLASS

Introduction

For project four I have chosen to do a study of depression glass. In this study I will give a brief history of depression glass. I will then go on to look at the different styles and patterns of depression glass and how they are related, and were used in everyday life in Greenbelt, Maryland.For this project I will be using four artifacts from the Greenbelt museum. These artifacts are the dessert cup, candlestick, sectional serving plate, and the candy dish. Three other people are also doing their projects on depression glass, and related topics. These people are: Edie, Vivian, and Alicia. Edie and Vivian are both doing depression glass. Their papers should be fairly similar to mine. All of us have information on how depression glass was made, manufactured, etc.. Alicia is doing her project on the kitchen that we saw at the Greenbelt Museum.
History of Glass
The common article of commercial manufacture known as glass is normally a transparent, hard, brittle substance formed from certain liquids that have the property of cooling below their freezing points without crystalizing, thus becoming liquids of increasingly high viscosity, eventually so stiff that by all ordinary definitions these liquids have the properties of a solid. (The New Encyclopedia Brittanica Micropaedia. Volume 21, 15th Edition. 1995.).

Glass was first made in the ancient world. Egyptian glass beads are the earliest known glass objects, dating from around 2500 BC. The origins of real modern glass were in Alexandria during the Ptolemaic period, and later in Rome. Molded glass, glass being pressed into a mold to perform a particular shape, were also developed early. Also during this time various types of engraving and color were also possible. To develop effects of color in glass certain metallic oxides, depending on the color you wanted, were fused into the glass mixtures. (The New Encyclopedia Brittanica Macropaedia. Volume 21, 15th Edition. 1995.).

History of Depression Glass
Depression glass is colored glassware that was cheaply machine manufactured from molds during the depression years of the late 1920's and early 1930's. During the depression era there were several glass manufacturing companies. The color,and the number of items made for each pattern varied from company to company.During this time there were hundreds of different patterns and styles, and dozens of colors produced. Some of the colors are: amber, pink, blue, red, yellow, white, and crystal. The most popular color was rose pink, and the most popular style and pattern was carnival glass. This glassware was inexpensively made, and produced in great quantity. It was sold through five and dime stores, given away as premiums, or included with the purchase of other products, for example a spice shaker would contain a certain brand of spice. Today depression glass is a collectors item. Across the country there are over 150,000 collectors, and this number is growing every year. These collectors are also paying very large sums of money for some pieces of depression glass. For example during the depression a 16 piece luncheon set sold for 29 cents, and today collectors are paying anywhere from 100 to 1,000 dollars for a dinner service set.(Florence, Gene.The Collectors Encyclopedia of Depression Glass. Fifth Edition. 1982.)

The objects in this project, along with all other true pieces of Depression glass, were made during the times of the Great Depression. In economics, a depression is a major downswing in the business cycle that is characterized by sharply reduced industrial production, widespread unemployment, serious declines or cessations of growth in construction activity and great reductions in international trade and capital movements. Unlike minor business contractions that may occur in one country independantly of business cycles in other countries, severe depressions have usually been nearly worldwide in scope. The Great Depression, beginning in 1929, was the most severe and widespread economic decline in the 20th century.(Encyclopedia Brittanica Micropaedia.) The cessations of growth in construction , and the widespread unemployment of the time lead to the building of Greenbelt, Maryland. The sharp reduction in industrial production also lead to the development of manufacturing techniques to produce glass cheaply.

Glass Companies and their Patterns
Anchor Hocking Glass Co. made the Hobnail pattern.
Federal Glass Co. made the Columbia pattern.
Indiana Glass Co. made the Avocado Sweet Pear pattern.
Hazel Glass Co. made the Colonial Block pattern.
Depression glass was made by several glass manufacturing companies during this time period.One of these companies was the Imperial Glass Company. The Company was located in Bellaue, Ohio. It was organized in 1901 by a group of prominent citizens from Wheeling, West Virginia. A variety of fine art glass, in addition to carnival glass, was produced by the firm. The two trademarks which identified the ware were issued in June 1914. One trademark consisted of the firms name "Imperial", and the other included a cross formed by double pointed arrows. The cross trademark was changed in September of the same year to what was known as a German cross. The overlapping "IG" cipher was adopted by Imperial in 1949, and appears on practically all of their present productions, including carnival glass. Carnival Glass was an inexpensive, pressed irridescent glassware made from about 1900 through the 1920's. It was made in quantity by Northwood Glass Company, Felton Art Glass Company, and others, to compete with the expensive art glass of the period. It was originally called "taffita" glass, the ware became known as "carnival" glass during the 1920's when carnivals gave examples as premiums or prizes.(Hammond, Dorothy.Pictorial Price Guide to American Antiques and Objects Made for the American Market. 1993-1994 Edition.).

During the Great Depression millions of people were out of work, so things had to be manufactured cheaply so the public could afford them. The glass companies came up with a cheap way to manufacture glass, this way everyone could afford it. Depression glass is also known as pressed glass. Pressed glass was the inexpensive glassware produced in quantity to fill the increasing demand for tablewares when Americans started to move away from more simple utensils.(Hammond)

Materials and Construction

Obviously depression glass is made from glass. But what is glass made of? Glass is made from sand (silica), limestone, and sodium oxide. Before this time period the usual way to make glass was to blow it. Blowing glass was a time consuming, and expensive way to produce glass, and this price was passed on to the buyers. Due to the depression no one could afford blown glass, so companies came up with a new way to produce glass. At this time the companies started to machine manufacture the glassware using molds, called "tank molding". The process beganby heating the soda ash, silica, and limestone together. The heated glass mixtures were then passed into pressing molds where it cooled. The patterns on the finished pieces were either etched with acid, or carved directly onto the mold. By doing this they reduced the costs for themselves and the consumers.

Design
Depression glass is styled, colored, and ornamented in many different ways. There are also many different patterns of depression glass. Two of the more popular patterns were Cameo glass, and Custard glass. Cameo glass can be defined as any glassware in which the surface has been cut away to leave a design in relief. Cutting is accomplished by the use of hand-cutting tools, wheel cutting, and hydrofluoric acid. This ware can be clear or colored glass of a single layer, or glass with multiple layers of clear or colored glass. Custard glass was manufactured in the United States for a period of about 30 years. Harry Northwood was the largest manufacturer of custard glass, but it was also manufactured by the Heisey Glass Company, Diamond Glass Company, Fenton Art Glass Company and a number of others. The name custard glass is derived from its "custard yellow" color which may shade from light yellow to ivory, to light green, and glass that is opaque to opalescent. Most pieces have fiery opalescence when held to the light. Both the color and glow of this glassware came from the use of uranium salts in the glass. It is generally a heavy type pressed glass made in a variety of patterns. Another one of the more popular patterns is the hobnail pattern.

The term hobnail identifies any glassware having "bumps"-flattened, rounded, or pointed-over the outer surface of the glass. A variety of types exist. Many of the fine early examples were produced by Hobbs, Brockunier and Company, Wheeling, West Virginia, and the New England Glass Company.(Hammond) Adam was another popular type of depression glass. The adam design was on of the first ones made. The Adam design is generally a squared pattern, with leaves, fern-like scrolls, sun rays, and a profusion of flowers around the border. Who designed the various molds for this pattern and what their inspiration is unknown.

Another popular type is Chantilly. The scrolls on this type of glass or horizontal, running from east to west on the pieces. two more types are Chintz and Minuet. Chintz comes in the colors of crystal, "Sahara yellow", "Moongleam green", "Flamingo pink", and "Alexandrite orchid". This pattern has butterflies and birds on branches, and some have floral baskets with a ribbon type scroll. These designs give the glassware an ordered, classic appeal.(Florence, Gene. Elegant Glassware of the Depression Era.) Minuet is a design for music lovers. This design has musicians and dancers within the cameo, and the dancers appear to be appropriately dressed for the minuet.(Florence)

Cultural Analysis

As I wrote earlier during this time many people were unemployed and didn't have much money. Therefore people couldn't afford much, especially to go out to eat or socialize with friends or family. people used depression glass everyday, and for special occasions to serve food, beverages, etc. on. Glassware of this period could serve two functions. One was the intended use of serving food and beverages. The second one would be as a decoration somewhere in the house. If a family had an especially elegant or nice piece of glassware they could put it in the middle of a table, or put it on a shelf to help decorate the room.

Artifacts From the Greenbelt Museum

Dessert Cup

An elegant or nice piece of depression glass could liven up dinner with the family, or if company was over.

Candlestick

By this time most homes had electricity. Candlelight then became an important part of elegant or formal dining.

Sectional Serving Plate

During the depression people couldn't afford to go out. The only place people could get together was at home. Using a nice set of depression glass could provide an elegant touch to make a get together more festive. This plate was used to serve assorted finger-foods.

Candy Dish

This dish could hold candy on special occasions, or around the holidays. It could also be displayed on a shelf or table for decoration.

Depression glass could also be associated with two types of social behavior. Since this glassware was everyday it could be associated with the social behaviors of a family having dinner together. It was also used for special occasions, such as when friends or family came over, so it could also be associated with the social behaviors of family and friends getting together. The glassware of this era could also be considered a vehicle of beauty. Many of the styles and patterns are very elegant and formal looking.

Interpretation

Today depression glass is a collectors item. The meanings it had for the people of that era and people of today in my culture could be totally different. To people back then this glassware was a part of everyday life, whether it was a special occasion or not. To my culture and era depression glass is something to collect and look at, but not to use. Depression glass has no value to me, because i don't own any. But to some of my contemporaries it could be an investment, or it could be used as a status symbol, showing that they have the money to buy antiques. Depression glass is also not important to me. It could be of some importance to someone because they might associate it with the era of the Great Depression. I think it is possible that depression glass could be related to one quality. That quality is materialism. If it is related to materialism it would only be for people who are buying it today as a collectors item, or as an investment.

Conclusion

For this project I chose to do research on depression glass. When it was made during the years of the Great Depression, it was made cheaply so everyone could afford it. During this time there were dozens of glass manufacturing companies who produced several types of depression glass with hundreds of patterns and designs, and dozens of colors. To the people of the time this glassware was a symbol of everyday life, whether it was just having dinner with the family or having friends and relatives over. they probably didn't look at depression glass like we do today, as something unique, as an artifact, or an art form. Today people look at it as all of these things, and also as a collectors item. It's interesting to see how something can go from an ordinary everyday object, to something that is considered an artifact over the span of just a few decades.

Bibliography

1. Florence, Gene. Elegant Glassware of the Depression Era.
2. Florence, Gene. Pocket Guide to Depression Glass. Third Edition. 1983.
3. Florence, Gene. The Collectors Encyclopedia of Depression Glass. Fifth Edition. 1982.
4. Hammond, Dorothy. Pictorial Price Guide to American Antiques and Objects Made for the American Market. 1993-1994 Edition.
5. Warman's Americana and Collectables. Sixth Edition.
6. The Official 1987 Price Guide to Antiques and Collectables. Seventh Edition. 1987.
7. The New Encyclopedia Brittanica Micropaedia. Volume 21, Fifteenth Edition. 1995.
8. The New Encyclopedia Brittanica Macropaedia. Volume 21, Fifteenth Edition. 1995.