What do you do with depression glass?
When it comes to acquiring blue cobalt glassware, value really is in the eyes of the viewer. It is not possible to know what a specific individual is going to fall in love with. Just as challenging is producing any piece of art that is able to appeal to everyone. No matter how eminent the master, there are particular people that will not be partial to or appreciate his ability. On the other hand, there are pieces which become collectible and important, at least to you, merely because you enjoy possessing them viewing them.
I inherited a ton of depression glass when my grandma died. She told me when she was alive that if it was up to her, she wouldn't give it to me, for the fact that she knew me well enough to know that I wouldn't know what to do with it and I don't have anywhere to keep it or display it. But since her son (my dad) has given away everything else of hers that she would have given me instead without any consideration of asking me first, I'm stuck with this. My other grandma mentioned that I should keep it because it is incredibly valuable but won't offer any advice on what to do with it. I'm not a materialistic person but part of me would just rather have the money, even though there is nowhere to sell it. Even the local antique stores won't take it and if they do, they said they don't pay anything for it regardless of the value. I'd rather have someone else who can appreciate it more take it but I wouldn't even know the first place to look.
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I was sad to read this! I’m sorry about your grandmother, but depression glass was worthless in the 1930′s but today it is a huge collectors item.
To a collector, what you have is a treasure. The glass was included as a free gift in boxes of soap, etc during the Depression years.
Listen, keep it. You may regret it later. I know people who regretted giving away family heirlooms when they were young because at the time, they were simply too young too appreciate it!
Someday, you may grow to admire your grandmother’s glass and be glad to not only display it in your home, but use it.
My mother collects dg and uses it all the time.
If you aren’t into it, you shouldn’t feel bad about selling it (try ebay) or giving it to someone else in your family who is more into it. I’m sure there are online groups of people who like depression glass- that might be a good place to start looking for a buyer. You might want to keep a small piece to remember your grandma by.
If you want to keep it- try displaying it in a hutch. Personally I love depression glass, and think it looks cool either casually stacked or more properly displayed.
A couple suggestions for you.
Find out what you have. Not all colored glass is depression glass and not all depression glass is valuable. Your library probably has a book on depression glass by Gene Florence or Barbara Mauzy. These have good photographs; use them to find what you have.
If your pattern isn’t in there it may not be depression glass or it may be another type of collectible glass. You are welcome to post a photo of a piece or two on my Facebook page at http://www.DepressionGlassFun.com and I can perhaps give you an idea what you have.
Glass value depends on the pattern, color, piece and condition. If your Grandma’s glassware is chipped or scratched it won’t be worth much at all.
If you know what you have you could list it on Craig’s list, or ask a dealer to buy it (try Google to find one locally) or sell on eBay. Frankly selling glass online is not easy so if you can find a buyer locally that would be easier. Remember that dealers cannot pay anything close to book value, have realistic expectations.