Clearwater Elegant & Depression Glass Show & Sale

09/18/2026

Agree 💯%

For as long as I've been collecting glass sugars & creamers, sun-purpled glass has been on the fringes. I know it's been a problem with bottles and insulators, but it just didn't intrude into sugars & creamers much. Then, about 15 years ago, really dark purple pieces like this Fostoria American set began appearing on eBay, and while I was shocked at the blatant fraud of attempting to sell these items as "Rare purple American", others happily purchased them, sometimes at 10x their worth as crystal pieces. I always wanted to ask one of these buyers if they really believed that this was a rare Fostoria color, or if they just wanted the item for the novelty. Fostoria sugars & creamers seemed to really get targeted. Something about their 1940s-60s crystal glass formula must make them more suitable to purpling than other elegant glass companies.

The Fostoria crystal Coin set was another that seemed to get artificially irradiated a lot, likely because it attracted buyers. I documented an irradiated Coin set (sugar, creamer, lid) which sold for $215. Today you can buy a crystal Coin set for less than $15. Both the crystal Coin and American sets are common today, so seeing something like this get irradiated stings less for me than seeing it done to something uncommon, scarce, or rare. But still, I wonder: if you know enough about Fostoria to recognize Coin or American sugar & creamer sets as desirable, then you likely have heard about irradiated glass, so why spend many times the value on these sets? If anyone wants to private message me about this, I would love to learn more about the motivation. No judgment, I'm just curious.

If you would like to learn more about artificially purpled glass (irradiated), here is an excellent article: https://glassbottlemarks.com/irradiated-altered-artificially-purpled-glass/

09/08/2026

Our east coast friends getting ready for next year…

SAVE THE DATE! I am excited to announce our 2027 Vintage American Glass and Pottery Show & Sale will be Feb 6-7. If you are not local, we hope you will make your plans to visit sunny tropical Florida this winter and attend our show.

08/30/2026

Sometimes new collectors hesitate to buy unmarked glass. As this article shows, companies didn’t always sign their wares. Having reference books and buying from established dealers can help.

08/25/2026

Long before sugar became a household staple in America, molasses was the sweetener that was most often used. As refined sugar became less expensive, especially after World War I, molasses gradually fell out of favor as a sweetener. It began to be mainly used as a recipe ingredient, or as a specialty flavor. The Fostoria American Molasses Can debuted in 1915, at a time when molasses was still popular in many a household. While one might not understand this item’s purpose today, in days of old, the Molasses Can – with its Nickel Top and Glass Handle, served a valuable function. Furthermore, it served one’s table with style and grace. Knowing its life story is important, as it makes us understand more fully its true purpose and worth.

08/09/2026

Barrel o’ glass in 1926 😂

Save the date because in 1926, your favorite bride entered on the bridal registry that she wanted a barrel of glass. This assortment wasn't put together by one of the department stores; it was in a Hazel-Atlas catalog for stores to order as a stocked item. I can't believe I don't see more advertising for barrel sets like this. It was so handy as a bridal gift, and all you had to do was stick a bow on the top and have it delivered by two burly men. Unfortunately, the 87-piece assortment didn't include the sugar & creamer, but the Baltimore Price Reducer catalog sold matching Hazel-Atlas Utility items either singly or in sets. In addition to the sugar & creamer, brides were going to need a pitcher for the 36 tumblers they got in their barrel.

Hazel-Atlas catalog page and 1926 Baltimore Price Reducer image courtesy The Glass Paper Fanatics. Thank you.

07/27/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CpcfeN3i5/

07/08/2026

Our favorite “sister show“ in the mid-south is coming right up, July 18 & 19, just north of Nashville. See card for details…

05/08/2026

Long post, easy to miss the dates…June 17-20, Newark, OH.

It goes without saying that one of the best reasons to participate in an HCA convention is to learn more about Heisey glass. This year’s convention has a great lineup of varied seminars, ranging from essential pieces for an elaborate formal dinner of the Edwardian era (1901 to 1910) to Heisey’s Mid-Century Modern styles.

The first is our Mystify the Masters glass identification session on Friday morning immediately following the Annual Membership Meeting at the museum, about 10:35 a.m. If you have a piece of glass you haven’t been able to identify, bring it to the meeting and ask our panel of glass masters if they can help. These identification sessions have been favorites at past conventions.

Then, over at the glass show venue, The Skylight, there will be three seminars on Friday afternoon, two on Saturday.

First up is “Through the Looking Glass of an Edwardian Dinner Party.” Lori Buss Stillman will provide insight into the elaborate dinner parties of the early 20th century when tables were laden with many pieces of glass seldom used today, but considered essential for a formal dinner at the time. We will learn the role of Heisey pieces such as finger bowls, various nappies, jellies, mayonnaise bowls, assorted stems, decanters, and more.

Tom Files will follow with a presentation of Heisey pieces more familiar to us when he discusses “Heisey’s Creams (and Sugars) of the Crop.” From his collection of approximately 300 creams and sugars, he will choose 20 of the most unusual examples to share.

Finishing out Friday afternoon will be Mary Olson on “Heisey’s Overlooked Jewels.” She and her husband Doug have made a point of collecting as many of these jewels as they have been able to find. What do they consider Heisey’s jewels? You will have to attend the session to find out. (If you already know, please keep it a secret!)

On Saturday, Eric Tankesley-Clarke will explore “Heisey’s Adventures into Bent Glass and Other Mid-Century Modern Styles.” With today’s popularity of Mid-Century Modern styles, this promises to be a fascinating session.

The final session will be a trip through the history of Heisey as found in the archives when Karen Taylo presents “Navigating the Online Archives.” The archives include a wealth of material – photos, brochures, advertisements, ledgers, patents, and more.

‼️Special Convention Activities registration reminder ‼️

Interest is strong for the three ticketed special activities of the convention so a lottery may be necessary if demand exceeds the number of tickets available for each activity:

- A tour of the Heisey factory
- Glassblowing demonstration at The Works
- An opportunity to try your hand at blowing a piece of glass at The Works

To be included in the lottery, you must register by noon on Friday, May 8. Winners will be notified no later than May 15 if they will be able to purchase a ticket.

Register by calling the museum at 740-345-2932, mailing the registration form found in Heisey News, or online at www.HeiseyMuseum.org (click on Museum Shop in the top menu bar to access the registration form)

04/04/2026

Glass convention season is upon us…

The 50th Golden Convention of the National Imperial Glass Collectors Society will be April 30-May 3rd, 2026 in Bellaire and Saint Clairsville, Ohio. The theme is "An Imperial Homecoming" and we want EVERY Society Member, former Employee, and Glass Collector to attend!
The Registration will be FREE to ALL and the 50th Banquet will cost $40.00. And, YES, Everyone will have an opportunity to sell Glass or anything you collect, at our huge Glass Sale all day Saturday and we will have at least one Glass Auction during the convention!!
We are also bringing back our Tablescape Competition-so start designing your tables now! Rules will be forthcoming!
So mark your calendars and start planning your trip! This convention will be AMAZING! More details will be coming soon!!!

03/22/2026

The next NCC event is our Annual Convention, the Glass Show and Glass Dash. The Glass Show is scheduled for June 26-27. The Glass Dash will be held on June 27. These events will be held in Cambridge, OH.