Green Depression Glass Bowl Value Guide

This American-made Green Depression Glass bowl is a quintessential piece of 1930s history, originally distributed as a promotional premium during the Great Depression. Its collectible appeal lies in its distinctive ribbed exterior and the inclusion of uranium, which gives the glass a signature fluorescent glow.

What Is Green Depression Glass Bowl Worth?

The typical price range for Green Depression Glass Bowl is $40 - $70 based on recent sales. However, values can vary depending on the item's condition, rarity, and other factors such as:

• The intensity of the uranium glow under UV light significantly impacts collector demand.
• Overall condition, specifically the absence of 'flea bites,' chips on the ribs, or cloudiness from dishwasher damage.
• The clarity and uniformity of the green pigment throughout the glass body.
• Market demand for specific ribbed patterns compared to other common Depression-era motifs.

How to Identify Green Depression Glass Bowl?

• Verify the presence of uranium by checking for a bright neon green glow under a UV or blacklight.
• Look for the characteristic vertical ribbed texture on the exterior surface of the glass.
• Inspect for common period manufacturing marks such as small air bubbles or straw marks inherent to 1930s mass production.
• Confirm the translucent green hue consistent with United States glassware produced between 1930 and 1940.

History of Green Depression Glass Bowl

Depression glass was mass-produced in the United States during the Great Depression, primarily from the late 1920s to the 1940s. It was inexpensive and often given away as premiums in cereal boxes, at movie theaters, or as promotional items. The distinctive green color, often called 'uranium glass' or 'vaseline glass,' glows under UV light due to the presence of uranium in the glass mixture, which was a common practice at the time.