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Glass creamers make an interesting collectible since they are readily available for modest prices in a wide variety of patterns. I find their shape appealing, and it’s interesting that so many collectors’ books illustrate patterns with a drawing of a creamer. I began organizing here by size, ranging from miniatures to full-sized table creamers; however this plan quickly broke down as I formed different kinds of groups. A feature of collecting by shape is that the collection tends to defy other means of organization. I know the maker and pattern name for most, but a few remain mystery pieces. American pieces are predominant in the creamers I've collected, and I started with the idea of collecting EAPG, but I have a number of English ones and a few in porcelain and pottery. Because both my creamers and this little article grew like Topsy, I've omitted details of maker and date in most cases. This article is little more than show-and-tell. With the pattern name, it should be easy enough to check further details on any particular piece. Click on any photo in this article to see a full size photo.

In this first group are true miniatures and they might more correctly be called pitchers rather than creamers. They are all under 3 inches tall. From the left are a Bohemian enameled green glass pitcher (five other pieces in a matched group sold for $100 each on ebay), a short china creamer marked Nippon, the design probably from the 1920’s to 30’s. Next is a Wedgwood Queen’s Ware pitcher with a raised wreath of grape leaves around the rim and classical figures on each side. Finally, a colorful little piece marked Decorated in Hong Kong. You may notice that I strayed from glass into china for a couple of these.

Next in size are three very small creamers designed for individual or breakfast sets and having matching sugars. Two are English, a blue opalescent Davidson piece in the Lady Caroline pattern. The custard colored one is Sowerby’s #13501/2 with a design of peacocks in garden. The clear blue is American, Hawaiian Lei by Higbee. I still haven’t found the salt in this pattern and settled for the creamer.

Very close in size but generally straight sided, the next group is composed of pieces mostly made for souvenirs. Many of these are marked with names of people, towns, or events, and they are often in common EAPG patterns. The green is Jewel or Lacy Medallion, the ruby stained on the left Heart Band, the white glass Button Arches, and the last ruby stained is Pointed Arches.

Here are three lovely small creamers in clear glass. I have found the one on the left with an ivy pattern only in Metz, EAPG, where she calls it Sandwich Ivy and says she has seen only the small creamer and a pedestal dish she thinks is for loaf sugar. She dates it possibly to 1840, so this may be my oldest one. In the center is a graceful form with a rather busy pattern of vines and flowers. I haven’t identified the pattern, and I think it may also be fairly old. On the right is a well proportioned piece of Bead and Scroll, possibly from a toy set according to McCain.

Slightly larger, this green group is composed of creamers I think are still in individual or breakfast size though larger than some above which might fit well onto breakfast trays. The front row from the left has Hickman, a rather squat form, and Box in Box with gold dots. In the back is another Jewel, larger than the souvenir one, and Cordova.

Similar in size are these ruby stained ones. The one at back right (King's Crown) is marked as a souvenir with the word Mamma and the date ‘04. It’s helpful that many of the souvenir type are dated. The other patterns are Corona (back left) and Box in Box at center front. Ruby stain seems to have been popular for small creamers, perhaps because it was easy to inscribe for souvenirs.

The group of five is made up of rather mid-sized pieces, several by U.S. Glass in their states series. In the back row are two shaped like their taller water pitcher relatives in Michigan and Galloway. In the front from the left are Colorado, Washington with floral frosted band, and Ribbed Forget-Me-Not by Bryce.

Finally, I have only a few of the big table creamers left. Standing about 5 1/2” tall, from left to right are Cottage, also called Dinner Bell or Fine Cut Band, noteable for a “hand handle,” a pattern I’ve been unable to identify of ovals with fern etchings, and Baltimore Pear. This is an attractive pattern that has been devalued by reproduction.

A collection of creamers could grow into the thousands, and I stopped before mine could come to that. I'm already in a collecting field known for its thousands of different patterns, materials, and shapes!

Featured Sellers

Recently featured GPSA sellers are: February 2008 - 4evervintage and roxannesebastian; January 2008 - lan5; December 2007 - cranberrymanor; and November 2007 - 4evervintage, cranberrymanor, fanoffenton, lan5, and thetreasuredbutterfly. We encourage you to click on their seller IDs and visit their eBay auctions.

by fanoffenton Sarah

This eBay member writes on his ME page, "This is no more than a collection of images being offered to anyone who cares to have them and do with them as they like. Those who opt to use this as a reference source are free to do so, but I hold no responsibility for that choice." Nonetheless, we found this site to be very helpful!

by wgpaul Bill

This very hard to find McCoy #5 sand jar in brown glaze with green leaves sold on eBay recently for $5,000.01. It stands 16" tall, making it one of the largest McCoy pices. The seller reported that it weighed a whopping 25 lbs. An exceptionally beautiful piece, this sand jar is not often found, particularly in the nice condition of this one. Our congratulations to the seller coffeequeen1219 and to the buyer who won the auction for this nice piece.

Photo courtesy of eBay seller coffeequeen1219.

It happens every day! You anticipate receiving an item you won at auction. It arrives, and you open the box to see...pottery shards or slivers of glass!

Have you noticed how some auction photos just seem to scream “BUY ME!” while others are so fuzzy and far away you’re not sure what is being offered?

We share a few practical tips on the entire auction experience, from writing the auction, taking the photos, to packing the item to help you get that item safely to your buyer! Our GPSA website offers a more in-depth look at valuable packing and photo tips. Please visit and have a look around!

Depression Glass Reproductions Tips! (continued from last issue) Thanks to marketpl Judy.

• Iris 6 1/2" Footed Ice Tea Tumblers and Dinner Plate
• New tumblers have two distinct differences. First, turn these upside down and Feel the rays on the foot. New rays are very sharp and will almost hurt your finger if you press on them hard. Old tumbler rays are rounded and feel smooth in comparison. The paneled design on the new tumbler gets very weak in several places as you rotate it in you hand. Old tumbler paneled designs stay bold around the entire tumbler.
• New dinner plates have two characteristics readily discerned from the old. The extreme edge of the pattern on the new dinners is pointed outward (upside down V). Old dinner plate designs usually end looking like a stack of the letter V, though optical illusions sometimes distort that a bit. Also, the inside rim of the new dinners slopes inward toward the center of the plate, whereas original inside rims are almost perpendicular and steeper.
• Mayfair
• ALL PIECES - New mould repros.
• Cookie Jars
• Old jars have a 1 3/4" mould circle on the bottom that you can feel, new ones are smooth.
• New lids are curved, while the angle of the old is rather straight.
• Old green jars fluoresce (glow) under black light, new ones do not.
• Juice Pitcher
• Mould circle can be felt on bottom of old ones, new ones are smooth
• Shakers
• Opening on old is 3/4", on new is 5/8".
• Diameter of tops on old is 7/8", on new is 3/4".
• Height on old is 4 1/16", new is 4".
• Shot glasses
• Repro pink shot glasses are lighter than originals and sometimes look orange.
• Green, light blue, and cobalt shots were not made originally.
• Princess
• Candy Jar and Cover
• Only the non-rayed foot candy jay is being repro'd.
• Pink is darker/rosier on the repro.
• Green is light bluish on the repro.
• Glass is rough and bubbly on the repro.
• Shakers
• Repros have bubbly glass, horrible colors and a slick "greasy" texture.
• Tops are flat, not bullet shaped, like the originals.
• Tops are steel, not aluminum, like the originals.

No reserve clearance sales, less than TWO DOLLARS!

GPSA sellers are still listing clearance items. All items start at an opening bid of $1.99 or less. Don’t miss this opportunity to pick up a bargain from one of our reliable GPSA sellers! All sellers abide by the GPSA guidelines found on our home page.

Find a bargain! Deals and Steals!

To see Shazaam listings at any time, click here. Check back often — sellers add items all the time!

We’re so happy to have you join us!!

The following eBay sellers became GPSA members in October, November, December and January. As members of the GPSA, they have committed to upholding the standards of the Glass & Pottery Sellers’ Association.

whtedogs exislegirl

kathi64itsme

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