Depression Glass Candy Dishes

Depression glass candy dishes were made by eighteen different glass companies. Of the most popular one hundred and fifty depression glass patterns, almost half have depression glass candy dishes in their collection. The Paden City Glass Company and the Hocking Glass Company (later the Anchor-Hocking Glass Company) created the most – with twelve different candy dish patterns each. Other glass companies that produced multiple candy dish patterns were: the Jeannette Glass Company with seven different patterns; the Imperial Glass Company and U. S. Glass Company each made four patterns; and the Westmoreland Glass Company manufactured three different patterns.

Approximately ninety different depression glass candy dishes were made in a variety of styles, shapes, and colors. Out of all of these, only fifteen were produced without a lid. Therefore, the majority contain two pieces of glass – a lid and a base. Lids were manufactured in various styles, ranging from flat shapes to cone shapes. The styles for the bases differed greatly as well. Some bases were flat or round, many had an elevated pedestal, and others were three-footed. Several were made with two handles, and about a dozen were made as either a two-part dish or a three-part dish. Candy dishes were produced in a wide variety of shapes as well. Round or square shapes were the most common, while octagonal, heart, and cloverleaf shapes tended to be more unusual. Although the full rainbow of colors can be found, the most popular colors were pink, green, and crystal.

Almost forty percent of the depression glass candy dish patterns have several different styles in the same pattern. Two or three different styles per pattern are the most common. For example, the Twisted Optic pattern by the Imperial Glass Company has five different candy dish styles.

Two candy dishes were reproduced. The candy dish in the Princess pattern was reproduced in the colors of cobalt blue and amber, which were colors not originally produced. Although the Princess pattern was reproduced in the colors of pink and green, the reproduced color shades do not match the original color shades. In addition, the quality of the reproduction glass was much more rough and bubbly than the original glass. The candy dish in the Sharon pattern was also reproduced. There are three ways to discern a Sharon reproduction candy dish from an original. An original Sharon candy dish pedestal base is three and one-quarter inches across, while a reproduction base is only three inches across. Next, measure the circle of glass visible on the underside center of the lid. An original should measure two inches across, while a reproduction will measure one-half inch across. Finally, the quality of the reproduction glass is rough and poorly molded as compared to an original Sharon depression glass candy dish.