Closet Collection:
Browsing The Crystal Closet
This is where you are right now. This page contains all the links to the different shelves, and hopefully, will help you find your way around.
Anchor Hocking Shelf
Anchor Hocking started out as the Hocking Glass Company of Lancaster, Ohio around 1904. It began by making small wares. In 1905 the Beaumont Glass Co., Martins Ferry, Ohio, became a part of the Hocking Glass Co. In 1906 the Ohio Flint Glass Co. merged with it. A fire destroyed the company in 1924, but a new factory was built. Six months later, the Lancaster Glass Co., and the Standard Glass Manufacturing Co. joined with Hocking. The company was producing more glass than ever. In 1937 The Anchor Cap and Closure Corp, and its subsidiaries merged with Hocking. The name was change to Anchor
Hocking Glass Co. at this time. The company continued to expand, acquiring the Maywood Glass Co.,
and the Carr-Lowrey Glass Co. during the 1940's. The Anchor Hocking Glass Co. produced a enormous amount of glass in its time, and is still in business today.
Brass Shelf
Brass is a wonderful medium that has been around for thousands of years. It has been found in Ancient Egypt, the Far East, India, and Europe. It lends itself to all kinds of different shapes from teapots to wall hangings, with everything in-between. It can be plain, or colored, heavily decorated, or with just a few swirling lines on it. It can be worn as jewelry, or used for cooking. Truely a 'something for everyone' metal.
Carnival Glass Shelf
Carnival Glass is pressed and iridized glass that was first manufactured around 1905. It was made by various companies in the United States, England, France, Germany, Austrilia, Czechoslovakia, Sweden, and Finland. It received its name because cheaper iridized glass were given away as prizes in carnivals, and working people were more familiar with these pieces then, for them, the more expensive kind. The iridization was achieved by a spray process on the surface of the glass before firing, producing a very beautiful product at a greatly reduced cost, when compaired to the more
costly art glass produced at the time. In addition, carnival glass was the last hand-shaped glass mass produced in America, and remains a beautiful reminder of not only the glassmaker's skills, but of a time long gone.
Crystal Shelf
Crystalware has been produced for hundreds of years by companies all over the world. Some of the finest came from Italy, and other parts of Europe. Here in America, several companies have also produced some very fine crystal, Tiffin Glass being one of them. Heisey, and Fostoria Glass Companies made some lovely pieces too. Crystal is produced by adding lead to the glass. The higher
the lead content, the finer the crystal. Crystal glass gives off a distintive ring when gently tapped. The finer pieces hold the note longer then the glasses with a lower lead content. Crystalware comes in all shapes, from fine glassware to dainty hand-blown pieces of crystal art. Cut-crystal pieces can also be found on these shelves.
Depression Glass Shelf
Depression glass was a product of the 'Great Depression' of the late 1920's and the 1930's. After the terrible crash on Wall Street, millions of Americans were out of work. It was a struggle just to survive. As the economy slowly improved, people wanted some sort of 'bright spots' in their everyday life. Around this time glass companies started producing machine-made glassware. It could be bought for a very low price. A complete set of tableware sold for as little as $2.00. Even though that was a great amount of money to the everyday family, this tableware added 'color' into an otherwise drab existance. Dishes and glassware were given away with the purchase of oatmeal and flour. Many sets were put together by going to the movies on 'dish night'. Almost every house in America had a piece or two of this 'Depression Glass'. Today it is highly collectable, and makes a great addition to any style of decor.
E.A.P.G. Shelf
Early American Pattern Glass (also known as simply 'pattern glass') is pressed glass tableware (and some related novelty glass items) that was made during the Victorian period from around 1826-1915, (1826 at the Sandwich (MA) Glass Works in America) in sets that matched in design. Hundreds of glass factories made different sets, some more long-lived and more well-known today than others. It has been estimated that the number of patterns made were as high as 3000, however some patterns only had a few items made in them. The number of patterns made in extensive sets was probably closer to 1000.
Glass produced after 1915 is not generally considered Early American Pattern glass, but rather a transition to the Depression Glass era when glass was entirely machine made. Not many of the early companies survived this transition.
EAPG was manufactured in beautiful clear crystal glass and in a limited number of colors. The earliest pieces were 'lacy' in appearance to help disguise flaws that often appeared in the glass. As pressed glass became clearer, simple geometric forms became popular. Until the Civil War era,
glass was high in lead content to give it brilliance. This type of glass is called 'flint' and it
will produce a 'ringing' tone when tapped. By the 1870's soda lime glass became common as it is brilliant, but considerably less expensive to produce. It does not produce the characteristic 'ring' when tapped. Many reproductions of the early patterns are on the market today, probably due to its
popularity during its 'hay-day'.
Elegant Glass Shelf
Elegant Glass is a term given to the better-quality glass that was produced before, during, and after, the depression years. A few companies, like Fenton, are still producing this glass. Included
in this section is glass made by Fostoria, Cambridge, Heisey, Westmoreland, Duncan Miller, Fry, as well as Fenton, and others. The glass they produced was the dainty 'lacy type', Sandwich glass patterns, hobnail, art glass, swans, and more. Many pieces were hand-worked, acid-etched pieces that were sold by the better department and jewelry stores during the depression years and after. These pieces are very collectible today, and just as beautiful as they were when they were first produced.
Glassware Shelf
This shelf contains glass items that were made after the Depression and Elegant Glass years. Items from the 40's, 50's, and 60's, right up to today will be found here. The kind of glassware that many of us have around the house, plain with little or no pattern to it. You can find glass vases, planters, bowls, dishes and lots more, some fancy, some plain, that were made by the many glass companies that produced this kind of ware. The functional type of glassware that comes in all colors, as well as clear, can be found stacked on this shelf.
Kitchen Glass Shelf
Here you will find kitchen items of all kinds. Both clear and colored pieces, from coffee
pots to water bottles, and things in-between fill these shelves. You will also find the everyday kitchen type of glass, used to prepare, serve, cook, or bake meals here. Also items used to store
food or for use on the counters. Some pieces are engraved, or etched, while others are rather plain. This is also the shelf to find drinking glasses, old and new, and those collectible salt/pepper shakers. All these items had/have a great use around the house.
Jeannette Glass Shelf
The Jeannette Glass Company originated in the late 1890's. Around the 1920's, the company had
turned to machinery for production of its glassware, hence it was one of the companies that survived during the 'Great Depression'. Jeanette Glass Co. made several 'depression' patterns, along with
novelty items, candy containers, and kitchenware. For many years, the main colors of glass were pink and green. 'Shell Pink' was a later addition. Almost every piece Jeannette ever made, with the
exception of some of its depression glass, was remade in 'Shell Pink'. It is a very soft pink color and was advertised as a 'ladies color'.
Milk Glass Shelf
Milk glass has a long and varied history. The concept of an opaque, milk-white glass is an ancient one. It was made as early as 1500 B.C. in Egypt and perhapes even earlier. It was also produced by the Chinese who were making milk glass snuff bottles and vases around 140 B.C. Milk glass jars containing drugs, and spice jars made of milk glass were found in Persia about 635 A.D. It is believed to have been first produced in this country around 1609 at Jamestown, Virginia. It was even part of the beads produced to be used for trading with the Indians. By the mid 1800's, milk glass was very popular in both England, and in the United States. Every conceivable shape has been made in this wonderful medium. It also has been made in blue, pink, chocolate, custard and other colors. People either love or hate milk glass, there doesn't seem to be an in-between.
Miscellaneous Items Shelf
This shelf contains things that don't quite fit onto the other shelves. They are not made from glass, but from other wonderful mediums that have become very collectible. Pictures, books, wooden pieces, plastics, metal pieces, old magazines, and even old newspapers will be found here.
Porcelain Shelf
Porcelain is another medium that has been around almost since the beginning of civilization. Porcelain, like pottery, begins with clay. The basic difference between the two is the type of
clay used. In porcelain, the impurities are removed from the clay. The Chinese drew out impurities with a series of magnets. In Egypt, the soft silt of the Nile was used. Pebbles and other impurities were picked out with the fingers. Other methods were imployed by different civilizations. But the single most important thing known was, the purer the clay was to start, the finer the porcelain that was made became. Sometimes rocks were ground down to produce the fine clay needed. The great
porcelain makers of the past tried every combination known, till they were satisfied with the ware that was produced. Today we have a great many wonderful, and beautiful, pieces made all over the world. On this shelf you will find fine Porcelain from Europe, and America, as well as those wonderful 'Made in Japan' items that everyone seems to have somewhere in their home. From
dinnerware to 'odds-n-ends'. If it is porcelain, it can be found here.
Pottery Shelf
Pottery or earthenware is opaque, somewhat porous,
non-vitrified ware. It has been in use since the very beginning of time. Man (or most likely a
woman) probably scraped together some river clay, in the shape of a pot/bowl, to carry water back
to the living area. Left out in the sun, it harded, and could be used over and over. As time went by, each tribe, or group, started to mark their pottery with signs that were sacred to them. As individual cultures grew, and trade began between them, individual people were able to devote more time developing different types of pottery. They found different clays produced different colors and textures. These pieces were traded with other groups. In time it became an industry. Pottery has been found in every single area of the world. Almost every type of design, texture, and shape can be applied to pottery, due to its malleability. Today it is still one of the most highly produced mediums in the world.
Pressed Glass Shelf
Pressed glass has been made in a hugh variety of styles and pieces for a very long time. Pressed glass made before 1920 is considered E.A.P.G. and had a high lead content to give it brilliance. This type of glass is called 'flint' and it will produce a 'ringing'
tone when tapped. Most pressed pieces made from 1920 - 1940 are considered Depression Glass. This was the begining of machine-made glassware. After the 1940's, glass was mass produced and much pressed glassmade its way into the 'dime-stores' where it was very popular because of the price.
A complete set of dishes could be purchased for a very small price. Pressed glass is still being
produced today. Almost every conceivable type of design was pressed into glass. Animals, flowers,
birds, people, and geometric designs all found their way onto sets of dishes, or simply a goblet,
cup, dish, or vase.
Molten glass is pressed into molds, which is then cooled and removed. This results in the 'mold marks' which are very noticeable on this style of glass. Pressed glass can also be found in a wide
range of colors. This is true of the older pieces as well as the newer pieces. Many of the older EAPG pieces, as well as certain Depression Glass patterns, are still being reproduced today. Much of the time, the quality of the reproductions leave much to be desired.
Whitehall - Pressed Glass
While I know that Whitehall is a pressed glass pattern, I have so many pieces that I decided to make a seperate shelf for it. Whitehall is produced by Dalzell Viking for Lancaster Colony, and was first made by Indiana Glass Co. in the late 1980'. It is still being produced today. This pattern is a copy of Fostoria's 'American' pattern. One of the differences in the patterns is the thickness of the glass. Fostoria's glass was much thinner and clearer. But perhaps because Fostoria is no longer
around, and the 'American' pattern was so very popular and came in so many pieces, Whitehall continues to produce this lovely pattern in abundance. It is made in clear, and several colors that are not the same as the colors of the original 'American' colors.
Links to other sites
Well, there you are. I will be adding more shelves as soon as I find the time. I have over 2,000
items in stock. Check back every so often to see what other things have been added. And whatever
you do, enjoy your day. Let me know what you think of the site.
Krystal
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Purchase glass and pottery items with confidence when you see the GPSA logo.
