Collecting early 20th-century American glassware is a great way to extend your dinnerware collection. I started collecting glassware seriously after I literally ran out of pottery to buy in my core collections. While I had long added go-along glass pieces to my pottery collection, I recently started a deeper dive into Depression glass. I had always thought of Depression glass as silly and frilly (and a lot of it is), but manufacturers produced many lines with beautiful Art Deco and modern designs.
Each piece carries historical significance, offering collectors a tangible connection to our country’s social, economic, and technological past. For example, Depression glass not only represents the resilience of an era but was also designed to bring beauty and cheer to households during the economically tough times of the Great Depression. The sheer variety and beauty of the glassware produced during this century are unmatched.
Collectors can choose from elegant, intricate designs from manufacturers like Fostoria and Cambridge or colorful and patterned Depression glass from companies like Hazel-Atlas and Federal Glass. Moreover, the exceptional artistry and craftsmanship evident in these pieces reflect the skills and innovations of their time, making each item a work of art as well as a historical artifact. There is something for everyone!
Below are copies of some major manufacturers’ catalogs from the 1930s-60s.
Anchor-Hocking
Anchor Hocking is an American glassware company that has been in operation since 1905. Originally founded as the Hocking Glass Company in Lancaster, Ohio, it merged with the Anchor Cap and Closure Corporation in 1937, resulting in the company being renamed Anchor Hocking. The company is renowned for manufacturing a wide range of glass products, including beverage ware, serving ware, ovenware, storage items, and more.
Bartlett-Collins
Bartlett-Collins was founded in 1914 in Sapulpa, Oklahoma, by W. J. Bartlett and J. A. Collins. The company initially focused on making hand-blown glass but later transitioned to pressed glass production, which allowed for the mass production of more uniform pieces.
Bartlett-Collins became particularly popular for its colorful and decorative glassware, which included items like drinking glasses, vases, and serving dishes.
Over time, the company underwent several ownership changes and faced increasing competition, which impacted its business. In the 1980s, the Lancaster Colony Corporation acquired its glass plant in Sapulpa, Oklahoma, and the brand continued under new management for some time. However, production at the Sapulpa plant eventually stopped, and the facilities were sold off in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Federal Glass
The Federal Glass Company was a prominent American glassware manufacturer founded in 1900 in Columbus, Ohio. Known for its extensive range of pressed glass items, Federal Glass produced various products, including tumblers, bowls, plates, and other kitchenware and tableware.
Federal Glass became particularly well-known for its Depression-era glassware, an affordable line of colorful, molded glass items produced during the Great Depression. These pieces were often given away as promotions with food products or sold at very low prices, making them accessible to a broad segment of the American public during economically challenging times.
Despite its success, Federal Glass faced increasing competition and changes in consumer preferences over the years. The company ultimately ceased operations in the late 1970s.
Hazel-Atlas
The Hazel-Atlas Glass Company was a prominent American glass manufacturer that originated in 1902 from the merger of the Hazel Glass Company and the Atlas Glass Company, established in the late 19th century. The company was headquartered in Wheeling, West Virginia, and became one of the largest glass manufacturing firms in the United States during the first half of the 20th century.
Hazel-Atlas is best known for its production of fruit jars, bottles, and Depression glass—a range of inexpensive pressed glass tableware that was colorful and mass-produced during the Great Depression. The company also produced a wide variety of glass items, including kitchenware, beverage containers, and canning jars. The company was renowned for its innovation in glass-making techniques and product design.
Their products were marked with a distinctive “H over A” logo, which helps collectors identify authentic Hazel-Atlas glassware today. The company also contributed significantly to developing colored and patterned glassware that became iconic of the era.
Hazel-Atlas eventually became part of the Continental Can Company in the 1950s, and its glassware operations were gradually phased out by the 1960s.
Libbey Glassware
Libbey Glass is a prominent American glassware company that has been in operation since 1818. It was originally founded as the New England Glass Company in East Cambridge, Massachusetts. In 1888, the company relocated to Toledo, Ohio, due to the area’s abundant natural resources essential for glass making, such as natural gas and high-quality sand. It was renamed the Libbey Glass Company in honor of Edward Drummond Libbey, the son of the founder, who moved and transformed the company.
Libbey has established a strong reputation for producing a wide variety of glassware, ranging from tableware and drinkware to decorative items. They are particularly known for their high-quality, durable glass products designed for both household and commercial use. Over the decades, Libbey Glass has been a leader in glassware innovation and design, often at the forefront of introducing new technologies and trends in the glass-making industry. Libbey remains one of the largest tableware suppliers in the world.
Macbeth-Evans Corning Glassware
Macbeth-Evans Glass Company was an American glass manufacturer established in 1899, originally formed through the merger of Macbeth Glass Company and George A. Evans & Company. The company was based in Charleroi, Pennsylvania, and it became well-known for producing high-quality, delicate glassware that was both elegant and functional.
Macbeth-Evans is perhaps best known for its production of thin, fine glassware, which was made possible by innovative glass formulas that allowed for thinner and more fragile designs without sacrificing durability.
The company eventually merged with Corning Glass Works in 1936, which allowed them to expand their technological capabilities and production scale.
West Virginia Glassware
The West Virginia Glass Company operated out of Weston, West Virginia. The company was known for producing hand-blown and hand-crafted glass items, particularly during the mid-20th century. West Virginia Glass Company specialized in decorative and functional glassware, including elegant stemware, vases, and specialty glass items.
Their products were distinguished by their quality craftsmanship and often featured vibrant colors and intricate designs, making them popular among collectors and enthusiasts of fine glassware. The company’s glassware typically displayed a blend of both traditional and innovative styles, reflecting the rich glassmaking heritage of the region.