Depression Glass Dishes
Each year as I set my seder table, I cannot help but think about my Grandma Thelma, who died in 1981. Grandma had a collection of amber depression glass in the Patrician Spoke pattern. It was not a complete set, but there were about 30 pieces: luncheon plates, serving dishes, a few cups and saucers and a creamer and bottom of a sugar bowl.The dishes were in our bungalow in the Catskills. After I married, in 1980, I claimed them. I knew that they would be perfect for Passover. Over the years I have purchased many pieces. I now have a complete service for 18: dinner plates, soup bowls, small bowls, small dishes (bread and butter I think), luncheon plates, five serving pieces; two sets of creamer and sugar bowls; and the original cups and saucers from Grandma.
Depression glass was manufactured in the 1920s and 1930s. It was often given away for free as part of a food promotion or to bring customers into a store. I wonder if my Grandma had so much of it because my grandparents owned a bakery in West New York, New Jersey, that also sold some groceries. This might have made it easy for her to collect the pieces she liked.
In fact, a cousin of my husband’s also has a collection of depression glass from her grandmother (my husband’s aunt). Aunt Jean and Uncle Dave owned a grocery store in St. Joseph, Missouri. In my mind, I believe this clear glass set also came as giveaways that Aunt Jean was able to select and keep. Now her granddaughter is enjoying her dishes, as I enjoy my grandmother’s set.
Their patterns are very different. But that makes sense. Over 100 different patterns were made in many colors, mainly clear, green, pale blue, amber and pink. Although other colors like red and white were also manufactured. Wikipedia states that most manufacturers were located in the Ohio River Valley. The website lists all of them and which patterns they produced. My dishes were made by the Federal Glass Company
I have a few other pieces of depression glass. In my years of searching for my patterns, I sometimes found a piece that just delighted me. I have a cake plate in Madrid, pink, as well as a creamer. It’s matching sugar bowl was destroyed years ago in a conflict with one of my cats. That is the biggest problem with depression glass, it does break. I do use them for my seder as well.
For my seder I use the dishes in my way. The creamer and sugar bowls are filled with charoset. The cereal bowls have become my soup bowls. The bread and butter plates become small seder plates for each guest. I use the small dessert bowls for an egg dish that starts my seder.
My Rueven Glass pitcher, glasses and my parent’s seder plate.
But it is not only Depression glass that I place on my seder table. I also have several pieces in the style of Rueven glass that were my parents. Some are originals, as he works in New Jersey, where my parents lived. My art glass wine glasses, matzah plate and water pitcher brighten my table.
Miriam glass and Elijah’s glass
From my husband’s parents we have Murano glass kiddish cups that we use for Elijah’s glass and Miriam’s glass. My in-laws purchased these when they were in Italy over 40 years ago. I ended up with three in different sizes.
My Lenox seder plate was my parents. They presented it to me over 30 years ago, as they came to me for Pesach, always arriving in time for the second seder. They purchased an identical one for my sister, because they spent first seder with her.
Seeing these glass items on my table reminds me of our parents, my grandparents and the many wonderful seder memories from years ago.
Adorning my table with items from my grandparents, parents and in-laws brings me joy. It promises me that traditions can continue.
zicharonot 