Depression Glass American Sweetheart Cameo Ballerina Dogwood Floral Poinsettia Florentine Poppy Georgian Lovebirds Lorain Mayfair Open Rose Miss America Princess Sharon Cabbage Rose Swirl Fostoria Chintz, Romance, Cambridge Rose Point, Etched Crystal Vintage Stemware Goblet Candle Holder Pink Green
New Martinsville made Radiancefrom 1936 to 1939 and it was the glass that helped New Martinsville get through the depression. Apparently this stylish pattern sold well and appealed to people looking for a bit of drama on their table.
You may find Radiance in striking colors like ruby and ice blue and with a bit of searching see cobalt blue, green and pink. New Martinsville amber is rich and warm, and looks great with crystal or white china trimmed with gold.
New Martinsville made crystal too, which they sold plain and used for etched designs like Meadow Wreath.
New Martinsville Radiance Creamer with Meadow Wreath Etch
Oddly, the only stemware is the cordial, like the amber piece shown above, and a flat tumbler. That is unusual since most elegant glass companies made a dozen different stem shapes.
Radiance isn't truly rare, but some pieces are scarce, especially in ruby or cobalt blue. You can find the amber more easily.
Glass decorating companies must have liked the wide plain panels. Hughes from Canada used Radiance extensively to hold their Cornflower cut design. Hughes Cornflower is popular - no wonder!
Another interesting thing about Radiance is that some authors classify it as depression glass, others as elegant glass. It was partially hand made and is good quality glass.
If you enjoy rich colors and striking, unusual shapes then consider Radiance from New Martinsville.
How to Clean Glass
Care Tips: How to Safely Clean Your Glass
Ok. You went to the flea market, found some super glass. Now you need to wash it up! Here's how.
First, get the right supplies.
Magic Sponge (TM). These are wonderful general purpose cleaning tools that don't scratch. The brand I use is Mr. Clean. Use the sponge with regular dish soap or try a stronger cleaner.
Use Goop Off (TM) to remove old label gum. Follow directions and be safe.
Soak china in warm Denture Cleaner.
Bar Keepers Friend (TM) takes those nasty gray streaks off china and milk glass.
Use a bottle brush for stemware.
Candle wax comes off with hot water. Put your candle holder under running water and gradually increase the temperature.
Sadly, haze does not come off glass. That's why you want to check before you buy.
Don'tuse the dishwasher for glass.
Three Tips to Make Your Glass Last
Glass is memories. Your glass means something to you because it captures memories. How can you take care of your glassware so it lasts another 80 years and your children and grandchildren can enjoy the wonderful memories?
Tip #1. Store Your Glass Safely
Glassware is meant to be used, but you need to store it in between meals.
Put paper plates or paper towels between each plate. Plates with ground base rims have sharp edges that will rub against the plate beneath and cause wear. When you put something rigid in between like a paper plate you cut down on the amount of rubbing.
Plates with raised designs, like Block Optic or Old Cafe, will get wear on the raised parts of the design. The paper towel trick will keep your plates looking good.
Always store your stemware right side up. My grandmother had a set of Fostoria goblets she got as wedding gifts in the 1920s. Even though she never used them, they were all chipped up from being stored upside down.
The edge around this Hocking Princess pink depression glass cereal bowl is prone to tiny nicks and rough spots. That's because when people stack bowls they tend to rub or scrape each other. Unless you have tons of room you need to stack your bowls. Just put something like a paper towel between each one to protect those soft rims.
If you must put your glass away in boxes then wrap each piece in tissue paper or white paper, then wrap in bubble wrap and put in a box with a sturdy lid. The boxes that copier paper come in are ideal, or you can use plastic totes.
The reason you wrap each piece in paper before the bubble wrap is to protect your glass in case it gets hot and the bubble wrap sticks or softens onto the glass. Melted bubble wrap is messy stuff.
If you are able to find bags made out of bubble wrap or foam they work great for glass and are neater than trying to use loose pieces of bubble wrap.
Tip #2. Teach Your Family to Value Your Glass
This is the fun tip. Use your glass. And when you use it for family meals or with guests, then talk about it, where you got it, what it means to use. Make sure your children come to equate "Mom's special glasses" or "Dad's cranberry bowl" with special events and memories.
Vintage glass is a natural conversation starter. If you have guests that don't know each other then use your favorite goblets or dinnerware. Share with them what the glass is and when it was made, why you like it. You may find others have their favorite pieces too.
Here is another table that combines Cameo Dancing Girl Ballerina yellow grill plates, cups and plates with Miss America pink depression glass oval bowl and Mayfair Open Rose green center handled server tray. The stemware at each place setting is Tiffin Cherokee Rose and we're using the water goblet and champagne sherbet.
If you are using vintage plates then it's a good idea to serve food like pasta or fish that isn't hard to cut to avoid getting more utensil marks. Cut lettuce or fruit into bite sized pieces for salads.
If you have people that you know are harder on dishes then consider using older pieces, or ones that already have a bit of wear. You won't be nearly as upset if your flea market find gets scratched as if the plate you got from your mom gets its first little nick.
Tip #3. Hand Wash Your Glass
Yes, I know. It's tedious to wash by hand and the dishwasher is fast. Washing by hand will make your glass much happier than putting it in the dishwasher.
Dishwashers get hot. The high heat, even on china setting, can cause hidden weak spots to crack. The hot water can make your glass hazy. Once glass gets hazy it is nearly impossible to fix it.
Most metallic trims on older china and glass patterns will wear badly in the dishwasher. You can make the hand washing into a time for family bonding. Enlist your children or your guests to help dry and put the glass away.
Fill your sink with hot soapy water, put a large dishcloth on the bottom to act as a cushion, then wash the glass carefully by hand. It doesn't take that long and it's satisfying to see the sparkly clean crystal.
Try these tips to preserve your glass. You want to pass these memories down to your children too!
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