Month: October 2020

Madrid Depression Glass and its counterpart

On By wisdomlaneantiquesIn Glassware, HistoryLeave a comment

This pattern has been around 1932 and is still being produced today.  It is now called the Recollection pattern, and it is made by the Indiana Glass Company.  There are quite a few ways to tell if the piece you are looking at is Madrid or if it is part of the Recollection Pattern.

In 1976, the Federal Glass company released Madrid as part of their Bicentennial line.  To help discern this from the original, there is a “76” that has been stamped into the mold.

The Indiana Glass company released the Recollection starting in the 1980’s.  Some of the pieces that Indiana Glass has released were never produced by the Federal Glass company.  Some of the molds were put together, like the candlestick and bowl molds to produce a kind of a pedestal bowl.  If you happen to run across one of these pieces, look at where the bowl joins with the base”.  If you see ribbing inside what looks like a hollow area, then this is a modern piece.

The grill plate is different as well.  The original has been divided into three compartments while the newer one has only two.

It is amazing how much both patterns are here in the Ozarks. Keep an eye peeled when it comes to this pattern—you just might be paying good money for a newer piece.

What to do with reproduction Depression Glass

On By wisdomlaneantiquesIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

You go strolling through your favorite antique mall, a flea market or even at a garage sale.  You happen to see a piece of Depression glass, and you think it is the real deal.  You look at the price on it and see that it is reasonable, so you go ahead and buy it.

Once you get it home, you start to poke around either in a reference book you have or online to see what you have.  Then it hits you—you realize that the piece you bought is a reproduction.  What are some things that you can do with it?

There are many things that you can do with it.  The first thing that you can do is to sell it off either online or at an antique matt at the price that you paid for it.  If you do this, I recommend that you describe it as a reproduction so that everyone knows that you are being truthful about it.

If you happen to give the reproduction as a gift to a friend or family member, this gives you the chance to give a brief history lesson on it.  You could even take the opportunity to show what the tell-tale signs are that make it a reproduction.

Another thing that you can do is to use it yourself.  Vases could hold flowers, or even be used as a hat stand.  It could possibly even be turned into a lamp.

If it is a bowl, the sky’s the limit on what it can hold.  Paper clips, fruit, pens and even pocket change are a small sampling on what you can put in it.

And if it is a candy dish, it could even hold something like potpourri. If you happen to have bought a reproduction, what kinds of creative ways have you used it for?

Wow, what a massive cologne bottle store display!

On By wisdomlaneantiquesIn Advertising, Item highlightLeave a comment

I can see it now—as you are walking through a store in a local mall, you pass by the perfume counter and you see this sitting on the counter.  It really makes you stop and takes notice.

What is it?  It’s an advertising piece for ESCADA SENTIMENT men’s cologne.  This store display is in the shape of a massive cologne bottle.

This bottle is made of glass and it has a plastic lid and atomizer. Both the lid and atomizer are removable, and the store display has the same artistic / triangular shape as the normal bottle.

Just how big is this?  The store display measures 14 ¾ inches tall including the lid and 5 inches at the base.

You can see this terrific find in my Etsy store here.

Wow, what a great store display!  Have you seen anything like this before?

What are some of the different types of finishes that you will see on glassware?

On By wisdomlaneantiquesIn Beginning to collect, Glassware, Tips for the beginner, Vintage, Vintage, Vintage!, Vocabulary WordsLeave a comment

When you dive into the world of antiques and collectibles—especially glassware—you will find many different types of finishes applied to the item.  Frosted glass, satin glass and even pearlescent glass are a few of the finishes that you will run across.  Here are a few more that you will see:

Matte finish—this type of glassware has a non-shiny finish that was made by sandblasting or even applying an acid to dull the finish of the glass.

Luster—this has a shiny (almost a metallic effect) that was made by applying the glass with metallic oxides that were dissolved in acid and fired in a kiln.  After cleaning, the glass has a distinctive shiny surface.

Acid etched—this is glassware that has been treated with an acid to produce a finish that has a frosted appearance.

This is a few of the different types of finished that you will run across.  What types of finishes have you seen?