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During the Depression years from the late 1920s and throughout
the 1930s, companies such as Federal, MacBeth-Evans, and Anchor-Hocking
produced inexpensive glassware that was affordable by everyone.
Some of this Depression glass was given away for free, as
premiums for gasoline, bank accounts, consumer goods, movie theatre
passes, and could be found in boxes of food. The glass was attractive,
produced in many colors and styles. Because of technological advances of
the day, this machine-made glass could be manufactured in volume, and
was competitive in style with the far more expensive hand-blown glass
which only the rich could afford.
The product was a sign of the times, when households were furnished from
goods at the five and dime store, since the majority of people could not
afford luxuries. Made by pressure in machines, the glass was a much
lower quality, resulting in a brittle product that often did not survive
day-to-day handling. Popular colored patterns include clear, amber, red,
pink, green, and blue. They range in style from simple floral designs
to ornate Art Deco. Because they are popular collectibles which have
been reproduced in modern times, it is important to learn to distinguish
between the delicate originals and modern reproductions.
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