A snapshot of recent eBay sold prices for Depression-era American pressed glass (1929-1939), the patterns collectors pay up for, the color premiums, and the reproductions to watch out for.
Snapshot estimated from recent eBay sold-listings data. Numbers refresh every Sunday. For an exact current price on a specific piece, scan it.
Depression glass is the broadest category in vintage American collectible glass — dozens of makers produced hundreds of patterns from roughly 1929-1939. Pricing is dominated by color and pattern, with maker mattering less. The same Cameo pattern in pink sells for 3x the price of the same piece in amber.
Cobalt blue sits at the top — Aurora, Royal Lace, Moderntone in cobalt fetch 4-8x the same piece in crystal. Uranium green (verifiable with a UV blacklight, glows bright green) commands a 30-80% premium over non-uranium green. Pink is the most-collected color in depression glass overall, especially in Cherry Blossom, Mayfair, Madrid. Green, amber, and crystal sit lower in the price range, with pattern-specific exceptions.
High premium: Cameo (Ballerina), Cherry Blossom, Mayfair Open Rose, Madrid, Royal Lace, American Sweetheart. Mid-tier: Adam, Iris and Herringbone, Cube, Princess, Sharon (Cabbage Rose). Lower-tier but still collected: Diana, Sandwich, Block Optic, Beaded Edge. Within each pattern, dinner plates, butter dishes (with lid), and serving pieces fetch more than tumblers and individual sherbets.
The most-collected patterns have been reproduced extensively since the 1970s — sometimes using original molds bought from defunct manufacturers. Cherry Blossom, Mayfair, Madrid, and Adam in particular have heavy reproduction problems. Reproduction tells: sharper mold lines, brighter unweathered colors, missing pattern details, and the wrong shade of pink (newer reproductions often run more orange-pink than the original soft rose-pink). Pattern-specific reproduction guides published by the depression-glass collector community are the standard reference.
Depression glass collecting peaks in the Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia corridor (the manufacturing belt) and in pockets of the Pacific Northwest. eBay remains the primary national venue, with depression-glass clubs and shows running secondary markets. Estate sales in old manufacturing towns occasionally surface unidentified rarities priced as common pieces — pattern reference is the difference between $8 cost and $80 sale.
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Depression glass was mass-produced press-molded glass (1929-1939) given away as promotional items in cereal boxes, gas stations, and movie theaters, or sold cheaply at five-and-dimes. Elegant glass (Cambridge, Heisey, Fostoria, Tiffin) was hand-finished, often cut, etched, or fire-polished, sold through department stores at higher price points. Visually: depression glass has more mold seams, slightly rougher edges, and uniform color; elegant glass shows finishing detail, often with cut motifs and brilliant clarity. The price gap on collectible pieces runs 3-10x in favor of elegant glass.
Reproductions of popular patterns (Cherry Blossom, Mayfair, Madrid, Adam) have been made since the 1970s — the depression-glass collector community publishes detailed identification guides for each. Common tells: reproductions have sharper mold lines, brighter unweathered colors, missing pattern details, and often the wrong shade of pink or green. Madrid reproductions are particularly common (the original molds were used to make new pieces). Buy from sellers who explicitly note "vintage" or "1930s" and inspect mold quality on close-up photos before purchase.
Yes, in normal household use. Uranium glass (also called Vaseline glass) contains 1-2% uranium oxide for color and fluorescence. The radioactivity is low and surface-bound — well below background radiation levels even when holding a piece. The standard safety guidance is to avoid drinking acidic beverages from uranium pieces over extended periods (uranium can leach slightly into acid), but display use and occasional handling pose no measurable health risk. Most collectors store uranium glass openly with no precautions.