Collecting Depression Glass – Where to Start.Written by Murray Hughes
Okay, so you’ve been bitten by Depression Glass bug, and those pretty patterns and pastel colors beckon you from shelves of an antique dealer’s shop, a friend’s home, or maybe you’ve even discovered this special glassware on Internet. How ever it’s come about that you’ve developed a yen for Depression Glass, you need to know where and how to start collecting it – unless you’re made of money, have oodles of time on your hands, and don’t care whether you get real thing or not. But if you’re like most of us, and those things don’t apply to you, here are a few tips to get you started on road to what may very well become a fascinating and lifelong hobby.Step 1 – Buy latest edition of book, The Collector’s Encyclopedia of Depression Glass by Gene Florence that boasts a recommendation from National Depression Glass Association. Mr. Florence’s comprehensive book covers all known patterns with photographs and current price listings, short histories of manufacturers, information on detecting fakes and reproduction pieces, along with production dates and colors of each design. All this, including author’s own personal anecdotes about this addictive hobby, make this book not only one of most useful tools from which to learn about Depression Glass, but turns learning about subject into entertainment, as well. Step 2 – Go to glass shows and conventions, join Depression Glass clubs, and visit antique shops in your area that carry it. It’s imperative to learn about this type of glass from hands-on knowledge in order to get a true feel of how it looks “in person.” Soon you’ll learn many, if not all, colors and patterns, and be able to distinguish reproductions – most commonly made in Mexico and India – from genuine article. Color, patterns, weight, mold markings – even bubbles – of real Depression Glass hold a uniqueness all their own.
| | Is There Money To Be Made In Depression GlassWritten by Murray Hughes
You’ve seen shows on television. You’ve watched auctions online. You’ve read stories in newspaper.There always seems to be someone somewhere with an old dish they’ve found in corner of their attic that they were just about to throw away or donate to a thrift shop when someone advised them to have an expert take a look at it, or to put it up for auction online, or to place it somewhere for whatever you can get as long as it pays for your advertisement. And lo and behold! What they thought was fodder for trash can or Goodwill turns out to be rarest piece of glassware this side of Atlantic, and they’ve not only paid for their advertising – they’ve got no more financial worries for remainder of their lives! Hearing such a story, I can guarantees it was not Depression Glass. While money can be made, given it was mass produced by many companies for a number of years and can still be bought and sold in many locations, it may be another couple of hundred years before a single piece can put you on easy street! But very fact that professional dealers exist is an indication that money can be made in buying and selling of Depression Glass. And knowing value of each piece in your collection can have other purposes. There are times when knowing what your pieces are worth serves a practical purpose. Suppose your agent needs to know for loss-coverage purposes. Or maybe you’ve decided to get out of Depression glass hobby and need to know an intelligent amount to place on your Depression glass pieces before you put them on market. Or someone wanting to purchase a piece may approach you, and you need to know what amount to accept. Conversely, you may also be interested in acquiring a piece and need to have some idea of an amount that won't sound ridiculous. These are all valid reasons to know what your Depression glassware will bring on current market. And that’s rub – current market.
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