A PATTERN GLASS REVIVAL: PART I
by Dan Simmons
Widely collected from the 1930's through the 1950's, pattern glass has
maintained a respectable following, though most new pressed glass
collectors since the l960's have been devotees of the glass from the
depression era. For many beginning collectors today, however, there is
no emotional attachment to depression glass and all but the most
pedestrian patterns have become expensive. My observations of more identified pieces of
pattern glass at malls and shops and in trade journals, plus the
general and specific reference books published in the last several
years, would argue a renewed interest among collectors.
Pattern glass has several appealing features, but a strong one for both
collectors and dealers is that one may find it at bargain prices more
often than perhaps any other collectible glass. As a collector, I have
purchased hundreds of pieces at a small fraction of their retail value;
as a dealer, I have sold hundreds of pieces with a mark-up of 300-1000
percent. Though I have noticed an increase in dealers who recognize and
price pattern glass accordingly the last few years, bargains still
exist on the retail market as well as those at local auctions, flea
markets, and estate and garage sales. The reasons that one can find
great buys in pattern glass is, of course, that many people simply
don't know what they have. Some people may believe a piece(s) to be
old, but because they have no basis for identifying or valuing it, they
tend to price low, hoping for a quick sale.
Though identifying and evaluating EAPG may seem intimidating to the
beginning collector or dealer, a few good reference books and some
basic knowledge and experience can soon result in sufficient
preparation to buy and/or sell successfully. Before we consider the
specifics, however, we should first generally define pattern glass and
briefly review its history.
Early American Pattern Glass is the name used to describe the hundreds
of patterns of pressed glass produced from approximately 1840 to 1920.
Large scale production of mechanically pressed glass was begun in the
1820's to attempt to meet the growing demand for utilitarian items such
as furniture knobs and bottles. As demand for glass items increased,
the lacy patterns of flint (lead) table glass were produced in the
l830's. The patterns usually included under EAPG begin with those
introduced in the forties, geometric patterns such as Bullseye,
Sawtooth, etc. In the fifties the lacy glass production ended and new
patterns reflecting a stylized realism, such as Bellflower, Ribbed Ivy,
etc., were added to the geometric motifs. In the sixties, with the
development of a lime formula which was less expensive and thinner than
flint, the number of patterns and pieces in sets began to expand. The
thinner glass made possible detailed sculptural designs such as Lion,
Strawberry, etc.
The seventies and eighties resulted in a wealth of patterns, and color
became more common. Decorating techniques such as frosting, staining,
and enamelling were developed and formulas were created for milk,
chocolate, custard, and marbelized glass. In the nineties new patterns
were created to imitate the ornately cut brilliant glass. In the
nineties, however, financial troubles led to the closing of many
companies and merging of others to form the United States and National
Glass Companies. After the turn of the century, relatively few new
patterns were introduced and the quality of much of the production
declined. By the end of the first world war, demand had shifted to the
lighter, colorful, etched depression glass.
End of Part I - Go
to Part II
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