Hard At Work - Depression Glass ID

Just a quick post to let you all know that I have been hard at work, researching and improving content provided on my up and coming website that will assist in glassware identification. In the beginning focus will be on Depression Glass identification, because that is where it seemed reasonable to start. Hindsight, I wished I had started with 40s, 50s, 60s Glassware, since I'm personally more versed in that era of glass. But you know...the whole 'start at the beginning' and the popularity of depression glass of late, got in the way. I've found out the fun way, that there isn't nearly as much data available on the latter glass, and that the internet is kind of saturated with info on depression era glass. Oh well, that just gives me a fantastic excuse to change focus mid-way...much better than I'm 41 and have the attention span of a 3 year old. ;)

Please follow this blog and visit my website @ www.quirksbyannie.com. Again, it is a work in progress so it doesn't have nearly the content that it will, but I am working diligently on that part.

You can also find me on Twitter and on Facebook, where you can also find useful content about antique and vintage collectibles.

Quirks' Questions - The Q&A Forum

Quirks' Questions was created as a forum for my customers and/or readers to ask questions about antique and vintage collectibles. I don't claim to have all of the answers, in fact I guarantee that I DON'T, but my hopes are that enough of my friends, followers, and fellow antique & vintage lovers will help me fill in the blanks.

Just launched and I have already received my 1st Question and provide my 1st Answer. Just wanted to let you all know that it exists, and your participation is MORE THAN WELCOME...IT IS NEEDED!!! So come on all you experts, pitch-in and give me and the folks a hand. Thanks! ♥

You can either post a question in the Quirks' Questions widget on the right-hand side of this blog or click this link, Quirks' Questions, and go to the main site.

Depression Glass: Hocking Glass - Colonial aka 'Knife & Fork'

Let's get back to some glassware identification. I've had a lot of different irons in the fire as of late, so I thought it was time for a good 'ole fashion Depression Glass post. I'm not really the research kinda gal, but obviously one isn't born with knowledge of all things antique and vintage, so I've had to do quite a bit of poking and nosing around. The most interesting part is that I am actually enjoying it. The bad part is that there are many different resources and most of them contain contrasting and inconsistant information, so of course that leads to reviewing 4, 5, 6 resources and then double and triple checking each 'fact'.

I could just go the easy route and continue to perpetuate inaccurate information, but I'm all about 'breaking the cycle'. If you're a seller or collector, certainly you've been on 'those' auction/online selling sites to search for comparabales or that coveted pattern or piece of glassware only to find that 'hey that's EXACTLY the piece I have' and the person selling has no idea either what in the heck they have OR it is identified totally wrong, yet 10 other people have it listed (almost verbatim) the same dang wrong way. Really frustrating for Seller and Collector alike. So, again, I'm doing my best to break the cycle of misinformation and dial in who out there truly knows what they're talking about and collecting information from those wonderful gems and sharing that knowledge here, with you!

Colonial aka "Knife & Fork"

Manufactured by: Hocking Glass Company

Years Manufactured: 1934 - 1936

Colors: Crystal, Green, Opaque White, Pink

Classification: Depression Glass

Pitcher in Pink

Number of Pieces Produced: Approximately 41

This particular pattern is one of the more difficult patterns to collect. One reason is the limited years of production, therefore limited pieces were produced. This leads to reason number two...expensive! The aka comes from the rigid design between the scallops of the rib/panel pattern.

Mug in Green

Green is typically the most sought after color, simply because it is one of the easiest to find. Pink demands close to the same price as the green and that is due to the limited amount of pink pieces available, otherwise it might command a higher price because more available pieces would mean more opportunity to put together complete sets.

Cordial Glass in Crystal

Stems were not produced in pink, so often collectors will seek out the crystal stems to compliment their collection. There were 3 different sizes of footed tumblers produced, along with 7 bowls, and 5 sizes of stems. In total, there were approximately 41 pieces made in this pattern.

Oval Bowl in Pink

Have You Got That RUNNING IN CIRCLES Feeling?

Truly, I amaze myself sometimes! Not always in a good way. I am one of the most easily side-tracked people that I know. I have started and stopped this post about a dozen times, not just the blog aspect of it, but the addition of the information to my website. I have also promised about 1/4 of a dozen times that I am about to launch a new GIVEAWAY, but alas...I have not. The one thing that I can say with absolute delight and conviction about myself is that I AM TOTALLY UNPREDICTABLE. So love me for what I am or bug off (no, please don't bug off, but you get the general vibe.)!!!! Thanks, as always and forever, my faithful readers.

Circle

Manufactured by:  Hocking Glass Company

Years Manufactured: 1930's

Category of Glass: Depression Glass

Colors: Crystal, Green, Pink

Circle-Crystal Tall Sherbet

Circle-Green Low Sherbet

There were approximately 23 pieces made in the Circle pattern. 5 of the pieces are bowls, 4 are plates, and there are 4 tumblers. Bowls are apparently extremely difficult to find in complete sets, therefore this rarity has driven the prices up on bowls considerably. Other than the potentially high cost of the bowls, Circle in considered to be a fairly inexpensive pattern to collect, but not always easily found. There were very few pieces made in this pattern, so there aren't as many survivors as there are in other patterns. Pink was produced in a limited number, so it is mostly found in luncheon sets, and even the, very infrequently. Crystal is found only in stems or stems with green. Green is the color most  readily found, however, there are definite variances in the shades of the green pieces which can make it difficult to create a uniform set, but the difference aren't great enough to detract from a collection of green Circle, to me and many other collectors and experts this just adds to the interest and desirability of the pattern.

Circle-Green Bread & Butter Plate

Glass In The Raw - The Ancient Origins of Glass

Man-made glass has an exceptionally long timeline. Researching this subject has fueled my affection for glassware much more than I would have imagined. In all honestly, I kind of drug my feet about getting the official research underway for fear that once I started I would find it so humdrum that I would soon lose interest and not be able to complete the task. I needed to get the lowdown on glass so that I could understand and therefore explain its place in history.

Of course, natural glass, such as obsidian (pictured to left) which is formed as a result of a volcanic eruption, has been in use since the Stone Ages. Stone-Age man used this glass for the production of knives, arrowheads (pictured to right), jewelry, and money. Glass was first made in the ancient world, but very little is known about the methods initially used. Amulets and solid glass beads are thought to have been made in Egypt and Eastern Mesopotamia as early as 3500BC.

The oldest fragments of glass vases were found in Mesopotamia and date back to about 1500BC. These fragments are evidence of the origin of hollow glass production. Hollow glass fabrication was also beginning to blossom in Egypt, China and a few other regions, during this period. Glass production increased quickly over the next 300 years and then began to decline. It was revived again in Mesopotamia approximately 700BC and in Egypt sometime during the 500's BC.

Over the next 500 years Egypt, Syria, and other countries along the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea became the center of glass production, primarily in Alexandria. It was from there that it is thought to have spread to Italy. The first glassmaking 'instruction manual' dates back to approximately 650BC. Instructions on how to make glass are contained in tablets from the library of the Assyrian king Ashurbanipal (669-626 BC). Truly amazing when you really sit there and think about how long ago that was and what has taken place during the course of history since that time.

At the beginning of the surge of glass production the process was a slow and difficult one. The glass melting furnaces were small and the heat produced was barely enough to melt the glass. It wasn't until sometime between 27BC to 14AD that Syrian craftsman from the Sidon-Babylon area, invented the blow pipe. This was a major breakthrough for the glass making industry. The long thin metal tube used in the blowing process has changed very little since then. In the last century BC, the ancient Romans then began blowing glass inside molds, majorly increasing the variety of shapes possible for hollow glass items.

From 25 to 400AD there was rapid development and growth of glass melting, working and forming technology in the Mediterranean region during the Roman Era. Production flourished and quickly spread from Italy to all countries under Roman rule. In 100AD glass cost rapidly declined and for the first time became available to ordinary citizens, something that would happen again during the 19^th Century with the advancements in technology.

GOOD DAY GONE BAD and Then Some

GOOD DAY vs. BAD DAY...
(I began writing this post 2 weeks ago.)

How does this happen? Woke up in a decent mood, not'overly wiped-out from the get go (like most mornings); all the kids got off to school; baby slept in until like 8:20ish; husband stayed out of my way until 9ish; AND woke up to a couple of sales. Then everything took a flying leap to the dark side. The first unpleasant maneuver was comprised of picking up my 15 year old son to rescue him from yet another 'school incident'. This one caused by some ridiculous English Honors teacher decided it was ok to give him crap in front of the entire class, a class he has a 96 average in. This of course was during the credits of one of the daily movies that she shows them in lieu of teaching them. Seriously, did you not realize that 'The Other Guys' was a literary film or that Leo Dicaprio's performance surpassed any performer that William Shakespeare could have chosen for Romeo & Juliet. WTHeck???? I'm living a nightmare here. I'm guessing this over-reaction is an extension of feeling like a fish out of water, living in The South instead of Southern California. I don't hate the South, it isn't the location's fault that I don't fit in, but no matter what I've tried...I DO NOT FIT IN!!!

A LITTLE TRIP...
So, as noted above, I began writing this post a couple of weeks ago. And, as things sometimes do, circumstances changed. At first they changed from bad to BAD then to REALLY BAD. Ended up deciding that the best scenario for all involved was a long overdue trip to the doctor to get my meds reevaluated. This is not something quirky folks like me like doing. Tends to be a bit tense, but then I realize that it honestly was for the best and now things are all back on track. Of course this process took me off the radar for about 5 days, therefore created a backlog of work (thankfully my husband/partner was there to pick up the slack while I was absent), but with my new and improved attitude, all went well. I got through most of the backlog and am even branching out, getting some great new things going for Quirks By Annie.

THE WRAP UP...
So, I just wanted to bring you all up to date. Let you know what the haps were and why I have been lagging a bit about getting new articles posted and getting additional information linked to the website, quirksbyannie.com. Thanks so much for reading, following, or just scanning. It helps make my day!!! ♥

In the meantime, PLEASE...


VISIT my Etsy Store
SUBSCRIBE to my Blog Posts
FOLLOW ME on Twitter @QuirksByAnnie
LIKE me on facebook.com
OR JUST SEND ME A GOOD OL' FASHIONED e-mail

THE A-LIST

Okay, back again and perhaps back on track. Doesn't take much to distract me, and working on building a new business along with a new website, blog, connecting with new/fabulous people, and the often erratic day to day of having a big family, has made me a bit more distracted than normal. (For example: I began writing this post about 10:30am. It is now 4:55pm and THIS ↔ is a far as I have gotten. But I've completed parts of a TON of other tasks though!) So, back to it!!!


TALK ABOUT MAKING THE A-LIST, HOLLYWOOD HAS NOTHIIN' ON THESE STARS...


Makes perfect sense to start with Anchor Hocking Company. The obvious reasons are 1) Their name starts with an 'A' -and- 2) They are the only Depression Glass maker that can claim that fact. But the best and most important reason is that they truly are 'A List' material. Anchor Hocking has a fantastic history that began in 1905, and the simple fact is that they remain the leading North American designer, manufacturer and distributor of glassware to the retail, food-service and specialty markets, to date. This company manufactured 24 'Depression Glass' patterns, 20 of which were made under their original name, Hocking Glass Company. Only Royal Ruby, Manhattan, Oyster & Pearl, and Queen Mary were produced after Hocking Glass Company merged with Anchor Cap and Closure Corporations, thus becoming Anchor Hocking Glass Company, on December 31, 1937.


NOW, FOR THE REST OF THE STORY...


I have decided to link to my 'under construction' website. The link currently has the history of Anchor Hocking, along with some photos of their Depression Era and 40's, 50's, 60's Glassware that I own now or used to own. I am currently working on creating links for each pattern Anchor Hocking manufactured during those eras, so please check back. (And please keep in mind, the site is truly a work in progress.)

A Brief History of Anchor Hocking Company

YOU NEED THIS LIST ~ Depression Glass Pattern List ~ Adam to Windsor

Important Info...

Hocking Glass Company
Depression Era Advertisement

This might seem a bit drab as far as posts go, but if you've ever tried to identify a piece of Depression Glass, you know how important this info is. Right now I'm just going to give you the pattern vs. maker list. BUT my next posts will include photo identification, which will include pattern, maker, and a photo or three. This will be a major help in identifying that piece of Depression Glass that you've been holding on to forever or that piece that you've been dying to purchase, but just aren't positive that it is truly what you think it is or whether it is as valuable as the price tag hanging on it claims it is.


Adam to Windsor...

The list of Depression Glass patterns, from A to Z, is quite often referred to as "Adam to Windsor". You can use this list as the foundation for your exploration into the world of Depression Glass. It is a useful identification tool that you will be able to refer to time and time again in order to help you sort out what pattern belongs to what maker, etc. So let's do it. I will provide you with the pattern name, followed by the manufacturer.