#Recognize #Sandwich #Glass #Patterns #Glance #WorthPoint
At the risk of sounding like an oddball kid, I’ll admit that I was introduced to Sandwich glass patterns while antiquing with my mom around the age of ten. I was drawn to Depression glass colors and patterns and memorized my mom’s book on the topic from cover to cover. One fun thing I did was surprise adults at the flea market with my solid glassware identification skills. It was awesome, if I do say so myself. It only stands to reason that sooner or later, I’d end up collecting one of the patterns I’d grown to not only recognize but love.
After much contemplation, I decided to collect Anchor Hocking Glass Company’s “Sandwich” pattern in clear. It wasn’t as exciting as some of the other colored glass I’d studied and admired, but many of the pieces were within a kid’s budget, and there were lots and lots of interesting items to track down. I still, in fact, have the entire set all these years later. What I didn’t know as a kid was why the intricate pattern was named “Sandwich.” I later found out this was just one of the many times manufacturers were inspired by glassware even older than the set I was collecting.
The Original Sandwich Glass
If you want to get back to the roots of all the different Sandwich patterns made over time, look to the Boston & Sandwich Glass Company, founded in 1825. The company, located in Sandwich, the oldest town on Cape Cod in Massachusetts, employed many skilled glassblowers. They also made mold-blown glass to mimic Irish cut glass and eventually began using pressing machines to make a variety of intricate glass patterns on repeat.
Deming Jarves, who founded and managed the company, made patented design improvements to glass pressing machines and molds used in production that led to the making of intricate and beautiful vining patterns. While the company ceased operations in 1888, the inspiration for many Sandwich-style patterns of glass was gleaned from the glass this factory made.
Older pieces of Sandwich glass aren’t found in the wild much today, but some of the patterns this early glass inspired still turn up on thrift shop shelves and in estate sale offerings. There are several of these patterns you can learn to recognize at a glance.
Hocking and Duncan & Miller Sandwich Patterns
Since I’ve been studying Sandwich glass patterns for most of my life, I sometimes forget that telling them apart can get a tad confusing. As a collector of Anchor Hocking’s Sandwich, dating to the 1950s, I learned quickly that the flowers in the pattern—which look a lot like daisies—have two small lines around each petal. Even as a kid, if I saw those double lines, I knew I was in business and proceeded to make some deals with my allowance money at garage sales and flea markets.
I also heard many dealers calling Hocking Sandwich pieces “oatmeal glass.” That’s because some of the glassware, especially those in the deep forest green color produced from the mid-1950s through the 1960s, were given away as premiums in cereal boxes. The glass is nice enough, but certainly not fine crystal.
Duncan & Miller’s Early American Sandwich pattern, on the other hand, is higher in quality. The glass is clearer, and the leaf and vine patterns are molded more sharply. Small diamonds in the pattern link the scrolling vines together when you look at the glass very closely. However, one of the main clues for me is that the central element looks more like a ten-pointed star rather than a flower.
Because it’s higher in quality, does that make it more valuable than other Sandwich patterns? Not necessarily. You have to research each piece of glass individually to determine the value of each plate, bowl, tumbler, and serving piece.
Indiana and Tiara Sandwich Patterns
There’s no need to try to distinguish Indiana Glass Company’s clear glass made during the 1920s and ’30s from Tiara Exclusives sold from 1970 to 1998 because the same molds were used to produce both lines. The difference is that the older clear pieces were marketed through more traditional means, and the more colorful Tiara was sold at home parties. Hues available included amber, ruby red, light green, teal, dark blue, and light peach. The glass sold well and often comes on the market today, so it’s not uncommon to find it while thrifting.
So, how do you tell Indiana and Tiara Sandwich patterns from Hocking and Duncan & Miller? While reviewing articles on the National Depression Glass Association website, I found a very apropos statement from Kathy Eichholt: “It’s probably easiest to tell Indiana by deciding it is not Anchor Hocking or Duncan & Miller.” Do you see a flower with a double outline in the center indicating Hocking, or a ten-pointed star denoting Duncan & Miller? Then, the Sandwich pattern you’re looking at may very well have been made by Indiana.
The many colors of Tiara can provide even more distinguishing clues. That is, until you discover that Indiana Glass Co. also made a “Star and Scroll” Sandwich pattern for Montgomery Ward in 1972 to celebrate the retailer’s 100th anniversary. These pieces were made in turquoise blue, lime green, and a hue called “Sunset,” combining red and gold in the same pattern.
Take the Time to Learn about 20th-Century Sandwich Glass
Remember that these aren’t the only Sandwich glass patterns produced over the course of the 20th century, but they are some of the most well-known and the ones you’re probably going to find the most frequently. Identifying these correctly will help you market them more accurately and find the right buyer for your goods.
Collectors tend to do online searches in narrower terms, so having the right keywords regarding manufacturers can make a big difference. You’ll also be able to research your finds more appropriately to get the values right. After all, there’s nothing worse than finding out you mistook a Hocking Sandwich cereal bowl worth $25–35 for a similar Duncan & Miller piece worth $5–10 and sold it too cheap.
Pamela Siegel is a freelance writer and author who has been educating collectors for more than two decades. In addition to three books on topics relating to antiques and collectibles, she frequently shares her expertise through online writing and articles for print-based publications. Pamela is also the co-founder of Costume Jewelry Collectors Int’l (CJCI) and the proprietor of Chic Antiques by Pamela.
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