15 Most Valuable Depression Glass: Complete Price Guide

Depression glass created a little bit of cheer in the dreary times running between the late 1920s and the 1940s. Mass-produced by a large number of manufacturers — including, Hocking Glass, MacBeth-Evans, and Federal Glass — depression glass came in attractive patterns and colors to suit all tastes.

To today’s collectors, depression glass provides an interesting and intriguing hobby-rich history and also brightens homes just as it did over 80 years ago. New depression glass collectors, however, often wonder how much they should pay for this molded glassware.

The value of depression glass varies from one piece to the other. But, with numerous patterns and styles being available today, the depression glass prices are still reasonable. While sets can be costly, you should expect individual pieces to cost under $100.

In this detailed guide, we will help you discover 15 of the most valuable depression glass pieces. What’s more, we will answer all the questions related to depression glass.

15 Highly-Valued Depression Glass Pieces

No.	Depression Glass	Year	Value
1.	American Sweetheart Pink Saucer and Cup	The 1930s	$10 to $25
2.	Aurora Cobalt Blue Saucer and Cup Set	The 1930s	$10 to $20
3.	Block Optic Sugar Bowl	Between 1929 and 1933	$10 to $30
4.	Block Optic Pitcher	Between 1929 and 1933	$30 to $100
5.	Ritz or Cobalt Sugar and Cream Set	The 1930s	$10 to $20
6.	Colonial Block Footed Tumbler	The 1930s	$75
7.	Colonial Butter Dish	The 1930s	$40 to $70
8.	Cubist Butter Dish	Between 1929 and 1933	$40
9.	Iris “Corsage” Wine Stem	Between 1928 and 1932	Over $25
10.	Irish Iridescent Butter Dish	Between 1928 and 1932	$25 to $50
11.	Mayfair Relish Dish	The 1930s	$35 to $70
12.	Old Colony Pink Clear Frog Flower Bowl	The 1930s	$30 to $60
13.	Princess Pink Footed Tumbler	The 1930s	$15 to $50
14.	Royal Lace Green Creamer	Between 1934 and 1941	$30 to $40
15.	Windsor Pink Pitcher	Between 1936 and 1946	$15 to $35

1. American Sweetheart Pink Saucer and Cup

Pieces produced by MacBeth-Evans are very common. Using attractive pink glass, the company produced pitchers, bowls, plates, and other types of tableware.

Produced between 1930 and 1936, the American Sweetheart Pink Saucer and Cup was selling at $16 – $25 on eBay in 2006. In 2008, however, an antique mall located in Austin was selling the same piece at $12 to $15.

2. Aurora Cobalt Blue Saucer and Cup Set

Originally produced for breakfast use, only limited sets in the Aurora cobalt blue pattern are available today. The saucer and cup were manufactured in the late 1930s by a company known as Hazel-Atlas Glass.

Common on online marketplaces, the sellers value the saucer and cup set at $10 to $20. However, when sets of 4 to 6 saucers and cups are available, their price can increase to over $100.

3. Block Optic Sugar Bowl

Today, the Block Optic has 3 different styles in the market. All three styles, however, have a similar value.

One is a taller footed cone, another features a mug-like shape, and the last one is a footed bowl. You can find these bowls in clear glass, pink, white, yellow, and green colors. Sometimes, the sugar bowls come with a cream pitcher.

Made by the Hocking Company between the years 1929 and 1933, the Sugar Bowl was selling for $15 on eBay in 2006. More recently, however, you will find the sugar bowl at $10 – $20. The sugar bowl and creamer, however, can cost over $30.

4. Block Optic Pitcher

Manufactured from 1929 to 1933 by the Hocking Company, the Block Optic Pitcher holds between 54 and 80 ounces depending on its size. In 2006, the pitcher was selling at $100 on eBay. However, today you may find this green pitcher at $30 – $60.

5. Ritz or Cobalt Sugar and Cream Set

Manufactured by the Hazel-Atlas Company, this piece was first produced in the 1930s. The sugar and cream set feature an interesting chevron pattern and may come together with a creamer.

On online marketplaces, the Ritz Blue depression glass sells at $10 to $20. On Etsy, for example, the piece whose image appears in this section is selling at $16.

6. Colonial Block Footed Tumbler

Manufactured in the early 1930s by the Hazel-Atlas Company, this piece appears in books with a price of $75. However, today the block footed green tumbler sells at $10 to $30 on marketplaces like eBay.

7. Colonial Butter Dish

Produced from 1934 to 1936 by the Hocking Company, the colonial butter dish comes in a glass dome featuring a green color. Its ornamental and unique shape makes it extremely attractive to collectors.

In 2006, the colonial butter dish was being sold at $35. Today, however, online marketplaces like eBay have listed the piece of depression glass at $40 to $70.

8. Cubist Butter Dish

Produced by Jeannette Glass between 1929 and 1933, this depression glassware has its dome as the most valuable part.

On marketplaces like eBay, the plate will set you back $9. However, the 2 pieces when sold together can cost as much as $40.

9. Iris “Corsage” Wine Stem

The corsage was a term used to describe depression glass pieces featuring purple and red flashing decorations and a trim of gold. Manufactured by Jeannette Glass, the Iris corsage wine stem was produced in the years 1928 to 1932.

Less common than the plain iris wine glasses, this piece is slightly expensive. On online marketplaces, the piece retails at $25 or more.

10. Irish Iridescent Butter Dish

A commonly-used flower in the depression glass industry, the iris is seen more on this butter dish. Manufactured by Jeannette Glass in the years 1928 to 1932, the piece of depression glass carries different prices for the domed lid and dish.

When alone, the dish can sell at $10. However, the combination of the specially-designed lid and dish sell at $25 – $50. The piece whose image appears in this section has a price of $36.75 on Etsy.

11. Mayfair Relish Dish

Made from 1931 to 1937, this depression glass piece was produced by Hocking Glass. Available in different styles, the most common relish dish is the ten-inch, oval, 2-part dish.

The round piece pictured in this section is rarer, has 4 parts, and has a diameter of 8.75 inches. While you can get the oval piece at $35, the 4-part round piece will cost you $45 – $70.

12. Old Colony Pink Clear Frog Flower Bowl

Manufactured by the Hocking Glass Company, this piece of depression glass was produced between 1935 and 1938. Quite rare, the piece features a “frog” that describes the insert utilized for the arrangement of flowers.

On online marketplaces, the Old Colony piece retails at $30 to $60. The piece captured in this section is selling at $45 on Etsy.

13. Princess Pink Footed Tumbler

Manufactured between 1931 and 1935, the pink-footed tumbler was produced by the Hocking Glass Company. The value of the depression glass piece varies greatly depending on the condition, venue, and seller.

However, you should expect to pay between $15 and $50 for the pink-footed tumbler. On eBay, the piece captured in this section sells at $17.50.

14. Royal Lace Green Creamer

Manufactured by Hazel-Atlas Glass, the Royal Lace green creamer was in production between 1934 and 1941. Although the piece is quite rare, you can find it rather easily.

When alone, the creamer can set you back $30. However, when you find it with the matching sugar bowl, the cost may increase to over $40.

15. Windsor Pink Pitcher

Produced by the Jeannette Glass Company, the Windsor Pink Pitcher was manufactured between 1936 and 1946. The Windsor pattern is the most attractive part of the pitcher – it features a nice geometrical texture.

In 2008, the Windsor Pink Pitcher was selling at $25 to $35. Today, however, the same piece of depression glass is retailing at $15 to $35 on online marketplaces.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is Depression Glass?

Designed to be affordable, depression glass is a type of glassware that was mass-produced between 1920 and 1950. Often colored translucent or clear, the machine-made glassware was distributed at a low cost in Canada and the United States during the period of the Great Depression.

Pressed by machines in large quantities, depression glass offered affordable alternatives to the costlier hand-cut glass that preceded it. Depression glass allowed homeowners to add a much-need cheer to their homes at a cost that did not break their bank accounts.

How Can I Identify Depression Glass?

To identify depression glass, you will need to do the following:

Look for Small Bubbles on the Glass’s Surface

Check each piece closely and look at it carefully from all angles. If the piece is made of real depression glass, you will notice small, scattered bubbles.

Look for Small Lines on the Base

Turn your piece upside down and look closely at the base. Thin and long lines running in a similar direction are signs that you are holding depression glassware.

When depression glass was manufactured, each piece was dried while resting on straw. The thin lines indicate where the straw molded the glass slightly.

Check for Scratches

Most pieces of depression glassware have been around for almost a century. Since depression glass was largely designed for daily use, scratches could be a good indicator of a real piece.

Where Can I Sell Depression Glass?

When selling depression glass pieces, you can take advantage of the following methods:

• If you have nice pieces, you can contact local dealers.
• You can use websites like Craiglist to find local buyers.
• Locate a consignment auction house.
• You can use online marketplaces like Etsy and eBay.
• You can take your pieces to a flea market.

How Much is Depression Glass Worth?

The cost of depression glass varies depending on the piece. While a plate or a glass may sell at $15 to $40, larger items can cost up to $100. Sets, on the other hand, may have a much higher price, with some going for over $200.

How Much is Pink Depression Glass Worth?

With its vintage beauty and warm rose color, pink depression glassware is one of the most sought-after items. Like other depression glass pieces, the value of pink depression glass varies depending on several factors, including:

• Condition
• Rarity

While a common pink depression glass piece may be worth $15, a rare piece in perfect condition may set you back $100.

When Was Depression Glass Made?

Depression glass was largely made between the years 1929 and 1939. However, the production of this affordable glassware extended into the 1940s, reaching its end around 1950.

What Color of Depression Glass is Most Valuable?

Pink is the most valuable color of depression glass. It is followed closely by green and blue. Rare colors like lavender and tangerine are also worth a lot more than common colors like amber and yellow.

Conclusion

Dating back to between 1929 and 1939, depression glass came into the market during the Great Depression. Produced to ensure affordability to the mostly broke population, depression glass was extremely cheap in its early days, with most of the pieces having a cost similar to that of a loaf of bread. Depression glass allowed families to add some cheer to their homes with as little as 5 cents.

Today, depression glass pieces are often used to brighten up homes. However, unlike in the late 1920s and the 1930s, depression glass is slightly costly today. This detailed guide looks at the cost of 15 of the most valued depression glass pieces.

We hope this guide has answered all the questions you may have about depression glass. However, if you feel there is a question we haven’t answered, be sure to leave it in the comment section below.