Time for Glass - Once Again. Elephants on Parade

I've been unable to do much with my glass this summer due to a family emergency that required me to be out of state for two months. Now that things are settling down I can get back into my glass which is a lot of fun.

This is one of my favorite things, a small decorated tumbler. It is in the same style as the Swanky Swigs, same size and shape, but I've not seen this particular design in the swig listings in my reference books. This little glass almost certainly originally held cheese or whatever and is cute as can be with the red elephants on parade.

Recently I bought several boxes of glass from one of my favorite eBay sellers and am looking forward to getting home and looking through it. Selling glass gives me a chance to hold and touch and enjoy glass without having to find a place to show it and then I can turn around, make someone else happy by having this available, and oh, yes, make a small profit on the way.

Bryce Line 854 Etched Goblet - Stunning Tracery Design

Bryce is not so well known as Cambridge or Fostoria, which is a shame as they made some truly wonderful etched glass. It's interesting that most of my Bryce glass has sold quickly and for good prices, which tells me that those who recognize Bryce or who have pieces already, want to get more.

This particular etching was used on other stemware shapes and one reference I found called it "Paige" when on a different blank. The line number 854 may refer to the blank and not this specific etch.

I bought this on eBay and the photo was not real good leading me to think it possibly was Cambridge Windows Border. The design is somewhat similar to the Cambridge as both have spiral like swirls, but the Bryce lacks the border and is more delicate.

We have this listed on our store Cat Lady Kate's Elegant and Depression Glass. http://www.tias.com/stores/catladykate/

Thistle Etched Elegant Stemware - Fry Glass

Fry was one of several elegant glass makers which had a thistle etching. This is the Fry Glass Thistle etch, decoration number 15.

Thistles are popular motifs, possibly due to their prevalence in Scottish designs. Fry's is particularly nice with the flowing thistle leaves and the delicate up swept stems with thistle buds surrounding a central blossom.

Fry made some very beautiful glass with rich, complex etches and quality crystal. Although they are not so well known as Fostoria or Cambridge, many people recognize the quality and cherish their glass.

Colonial Block Candy Dish - Great Gift for Collectors!

Here's a wonderful gift for someone special (maybe you?) whether they already collect depression glass or simply enjoy beautiful items in their home. This is a covered candy jar from Hazel Atlas in Colonial Block green depression glass.

One great way to ignite someone's interest in glass is to give them a unique gift which has a history. Not only does vintage glass - which someone before us used and treasured - give us an intimate connection to the past, but it is an interesting insight into lives from years ago.

And from a purely practical point of view, once someone is hooked on depression glass you have a lifetime's worth of gifts you will know will be enjoyed and wanted.

Hazel Atlas made several patterns like that that get their looks from geometric motifs instead of the mold-etched fanciful designs. You'll find Colonial Block mostly in green and pink with a few pieces in clear and white. It's one of the less-expensive patterns, another reason to make it a starter design for the beginning collector. There were not great many pieces made, either, which also makes it easier to find and complete ones' set.

We offer this candy jar in our online store, Cat Lady Kate's Elegant and Depression Glass, http://www.tias.com/stores/catladykate/

Crystal Center Handled Server Sandwich Tray

Yesterday we showed a neat cupped center handled server from New Martinsville. Today let's look at one that is more traditional shape.

This is a pretty piece of elegant depression glass from Westmoreland. It is a center handled server with the round serving portion slightly sloped up but not cupped. It is a tray with a handle in the center instead of a shallow bowl with a handle as the amber piece earlier.

Center handled servers, also called CHS, were popular serving pieces for sandwiches or small cakes or cookies. People entertained in their homes and would have used a special piece like this to make an occasion a little fancier. This one is quite nice with a tailored cutting of close lines separated by the simple flower sprays. It would be fun to use this today for anything from appetizers to cookies to sandwiches.

We have this listed in our store on TIAS, Cat Lady Kate's Elegant and Depression Glass, along with several other CHS.
Catladykate's Glass at TIAS http://www.tias.com/stores/catladykate/

Amber Center Handled Server Bowl New Martinsville

Isn't this an interesting piece? You'll see more of the center handled serving trays or sandwich trays than ones like this that are shallow bowls.

The handle on this bowl is a rounded pentagon with two little ears beneath the open center. It reminds me of an ankh. New Martinsville made this piece and the maker can be identified by the handle shape.

The handle is offset from the square sides and aligns to the corners. You can see the corners have interesting scallops and there are more scallops, albeit quite gentle ones, on the sides. This pattern doesn't have a name, and is line number 36. The color is a deep, rich amber, very nice and warm, perfect for this time of year.

We have this listed in our TIAS store.http://www.tias.com/stores/catladykate/

New: We started a blog for people who are just beginning to enjoy depression glass called Depression Glass 101. http://depressionglassguide.blogspot.com/

American Sweetheart - Beloved Pink Depression Glass

American Sweetheart, by MacBeth Evans, is one of the most popular patterns in depression glass. You can see why - the light delicate glass, the intricate scrolls and floral-like design - all combine to make this a very pretty and choice pattern.

You'll find American Sweetheart in pink, as shown here in this cereal bowl, and in a light, translucent white glass called Monax. Some of the Monax pieces were decorated with rim treatments but to me the plain Monax is the nicest. You can find a few pieces in other colors, but they are rather rare.

Mayfair Open Rose Depression Glass

This pitcher is Mayfair pink depression glass by Hocking. This pattern has vertical ribs and wide panels with open roses grouped in a bouquet. Many pieces are square as is this pitcher.

Hocking made Mayfair for several years, 1931 to 1937, and in a soft blue plus some green, yellow and clear in addition to the pink. The blue is very scarce and I've seen only a couple pieces. It is a soft blue, not cobalt.

A few pieces of Mayfair have been reproduced, notably the pitcher, shot glass, shakers and cookie jar. The handle on the pitcher shown here is a smooth curve that comes horizontally off the body. The repro handles are odd shaped. Also, the base on the originals have round mold marks with the repros lack.

Good depression glass books will give details on how to tell repros from originals. Often the repros will be poorly molded or be strange colors that were never made.

We have this pitcher listed in our TIAS store and eBay store.

Fostoria Garland - Lovely Urn and Wreath Etched Stemware

Beautiful etch is Garland from Fostoria. This dates to between 1915 and 1928 and is lovely with today's table settings.

Fostoria made a cutting called Garland also, and they used a second stemware line for this etch. If you like this you will want to be sure you are getting the etch and stemware blank you prefer. The other blank has a much wider stem and the bowl is more bulbous.

Garland features an urn overflowing with flowers and leaves that form swags around the bowl. The swags connect to round wreaths that have ribbons at the end. You can see the wreaths in this view.

During the early part of the 20th century formal dinners often included multiple wines and used separate stems for each one. This is one reason why the wine stems from early days are much smaller than wine stems one buys today. This particular wine goblet holds only 2 3/4 ounces when filled to the very brim. This is the common size for older wine stems - another point to know if you decide to indulge yourself with vintage crystal stemware.

We have this listed in our TIAS and eBay stores.
http://www.tias.com/stores/catladykate/
http://stores.ebay.com/Vintage-Elegant-Depression-Glass

New: We started a blog for people who are just beginning to enjoy depression glass called Depression Glass 101. http://depressionglassguide.blogspot.com/

Old English Depression Glass aka Threading by Indiana Glass

Yes, this is depression glass, but it has a lot of looks and is stylish even today. The pattern is Old English and it has narrow, fine ribs running horizontally. The element that makes this pattern pop is the handle shape - notice the double curlicue on this comport. Some pieces have open clover shapes, very nice and sharp.

Indiana Glass made Old English in the late 1920s. Many of Indiana's depression patterns have only numbers, but this one is different as the pattern name appears to be original with the manufacturer. This has the appearance of finer glass, partly due to the style, but also the colors and shapes. It comes in green with some amber and pink and the amber is deep and rich, very nice.

We have this piece and the matching candle holder listed in our TIAS and eBay stores.
http://www.tias.com/stores/catladykate/
http://stores.ebay.com/Vintage-Elegant-Depression-Glass

Fostoria Shirley Etch - Coming Up Poppies!

Isn't this a beautiful candle holder? It is Fostoria's Baroque blank with the Shirley etch. You can imagine how this looks holding two candles on your dining room table!

Fostoria used Shirley on other blanks, including Flame and Sceptre. The wavy curves on the arms and asymmetric center show this is Baroque, even though it doesn't have the usual fleur de lis.

Shirley etch has a single large poppy surrounded by vines of leaves and buds that swag around the open flower. It's a beautiful design that looks wonderful on the Baroque candle holder!

Chintz - Beautiful Rose Etch from Fostoria

Chintz is one of those patterns that I buy whenever possible. It is very pretty with spiky tendrils of roses and leaves etched on the classic Baroque blank. You can tell Baroque by the molded in fleur de lis; it was one of Fostoria's more popular blanks and they etched it with many beautiful designs.

Other glass companies made rose etchings and Heisey even has an etch with all over small bouquets that is called Chintz. You can tell Fostoria's etch by the spiky, angular looking etch design and, of course, the Baroque blank is a give away.

Right now we have the creamer and sugar, relish tray and candle in stock.

Pillar Optic Pink Depression Glass

Does this look familiar? This is Pillar Optic pink depression glass by Hocking. This is one of those patterns that is so simple and so attractive that it has been borrowed for years. You can find throwaway plastic tumblers that have a similar design.

This one is real depression glass and it's quite as nice to hold as it is to look at. The pattern is on the outside, so it does not qualify as an optic. (Optics have a molded design on the interior.) The panels are straight and slightly rounded to the touch. The top inch or so is smooth, making it good to drink out of.

This is one of those basic depression glass patterns that comes in pink and green and is affordable. You won't go broke buying a set of this, for example, the tumbler is about $15. Often tumblers are fairly expensive, especially since one needs multiples to make the set useful. Basic drink ware and plates are quite affordable although some serving pieces, like the oval platter, sugar bowl, creamer and serving bowl are pricey.

Pillar Optic is a good pattern to consider if you are looking to start a set or if you want glass that you can enjoy using without worrying too much.

Lido - Looks Like a Milkweed - Etch by Fostoria

Pretty etch looks like milkweed puffs gently floating in the breeze. This is Lido by Fostoria and it's on the Baroque blank. That means the glass itself has a pattern and the pattern name is Baroque. Lido is the etch.

This has been one of my favorites for a long time and I buy it when I can. This particular creamer came with the matching sugar. We have the goblet and large cake or torte tray as well.

Fostoria made Lido from 1937 to 1960 primarily in crystal but also in a gorgeous shade of blue called Azure. Years ago I saw some June tumblers in azure in the company store and couldn't afford them - such a shame as that is a wonderful color to show off etchings like this.

We have the creamer and sugar listed in our TIAS store and offered on eBay.

Catladykate's Elegant and Depression Glass at TIAS http://www.tias.com/stores/catladykate/

Catladykate at eBay http://stores.ebay.com/Vintage-Elegant-Depression-Glass

June Beautiful June! Flowers All Tied with a Bow

Beautiful stem, isn't it. This is the wonderful June etching by Fostoria and it's on the Fairfax blank. June has sprays of flowers all tied with bows and a ribbon that dips down to make a loop on the bouquet. So lovely, so romantic, so very elegant.

June etch is similar to the later Romance etching, but you can tell it apart by the little extra loop of ribbon - so perfectly exuberant - and the blanks Fostoria used. Tomorrow I'll show a Romance bowl so you can see the difference!

This is the cocktail stem and it's listed on our TIAS store and on eBay!

Elegant Stemware with a Twist! Fostoria Contour Champagne Sherbet

This is the champagne sherbet in Fostoria's Contour elegant glass. This dates to the late 1950s to 1960s as Fostoria made this pattern from 1955 to 1970. It has a mid-century modern styling with the curved stem and generous round bowl.

Swedish modern was all the rage in the 1950s and this must have been Fostoria's answer to the pricey Scandinavian art glass of the time. Contour pieces all have curves - lots and lots of curves - and the plates are cupped at the rim. They really are distinctive and you'll not mistake the stemware either with its curvy stems.

I showed the creamer and sugar in a previous blog at the end of 2007 and want to get this champagne sherbet out now for those who are looking for wedding gifts or stemware for special occasions. Vintage stemware gives us an intimate connection with the past; it's beautiful and it is useful. What more could you want?

We're listing this in our eBay store, TIAS store and offering one at auction this week.

Catladykate's Elegant and Depression Glass at TIAS http://www.tias.com/stores/catladykate/
Catladykate at eBay http://stores.ebay.com/Vintage-Elegant-Depression-Glass

Nice Retro Pitchers for a Nostalgic Touch

How's this for nostalgia? Remember the big pitchers with the neat decorations? We used to have a ceramic tilt pitcher with an ice lip that we used for Koolaid and lemonade in the summer. This reminds me of that - making Koolaid with my sister.

This particular pitcher is actually older than that (really) as it dates to the tail end of the depression, the very late 1930s and early 1940s. It is by Anchor Hocking and goes with some of their neat beverage tumblers.

I buy these whenever I can find them in good condition at a reasonable price and they sell well for me. This one is especially nice and in great condition!

If You Want to Be a Better Seller, Try Being a Buyer

Everyone has their own business model. Mine is to be a top notch seller and I define that as offering quality glass - not necessarily super expensive - photographed and described accurately, shipped carefully and quickly, and with cheerful service and a full guarantee.

It hasn't been easy to get better. What was super helpful for me was to buy glass on eBay, from both good sellers and not-so-good, and understand what that meant to me as a buyer. How can I make my customers' experience match that of the good sellers? How can I avoid causing the financial losses and annoyance that my less-pleasant buys have been?

If you want to sell on eBay, and sell successfully with profit and enjoyment, then buy on eBay. Learn what works and what does not work. Then adjust your business practices to provide the level of service commensurate with your effort, pricing and product.

Fostoria Large Star Cut - Lovely Stemware from the 1920s

Large star cuttings like this were very common in the early 1900s. Fostoria made their Cutting 81, Large Star, from about 1907 to the late 1920s, indicating the stars were well-liked. Many companies made this sort of cutting.

In fact we've seen rather crummy versions of this at the local thrift store with low grade glass and pressed stars or poorly cut stars. The particular wine stem I'm showing here is high quality crystal and the cutting is well done. I think it is Fostoria, Cutting number 81, based on the number of rays in the star and so on.

People who drank wine tended to have more than one type or one glass at a dinner or to serve sherry or wine before dinner. But compare the size of the wine stems to what we use today for wine. This one is 4 1/4 inches tall and holds just under 3 ounces when filled to the brim. That means that someone would have only about 2 ounces to drink at a time.

We have a pair of these stems and matching small table tumblers listed in our TIAS and eBay stores.

Catladykate's Elegant and Depression Glass at TIAS http://www.tias.com/stores/catladykate/

Catladykate at eBay http://stores.ebay.com/Vintage-Elegant-Depression-Glass

Heisey Waverly - Stylish Ruffled and Beaded Elegant Glass

Waverly is one of those patterns it is easy to overlook, but once you get a good eyeful you know to look out for it. It is stylish and graceful with the graduated beads on the rim and curvy lines and scrolled handles.

You may see this etched with Orchid or Rose and sold for big dollars but it is a very pretty pattern all by itself. This picture shows the wavy scalloped rim and superb glass clarity.

If you find Waverly you will need to recognize it by the beads and curvy handles. None of the pieces we've had have been marked so no tell-tale H in a diamond to give this one away! This next photo shows this same piece from the top so you can see the handles better.

These sorts of small, deep round divided dishes were marketed as relish trays originally. In today's world they would work great to hold two types of dip or two types of cheese or snacks. It's fun to get creative with vintage glass and use it in our personal styles and homes.

We have this listed on our TIAS store and are putting it on auction this week on eBay.