Depression Glass Now on Display at Sagtikos Manor

As a little girl, Eileen Boschen always admired her grandmother's collection of Depression glass. Over the years the Shirley resident has transformed her passion for the antique stemware, bowls and plates into a hobby that she shares today with residents across Long Island. Currently, her collection of Depression glass is on display at Sagtikos Manor in its Peacock dining room of the 1902 wing. 

Boschen, a member of the Long Island Depression Glass Society, Ltd,  followed in her grandmother's footsteps and began collecting the glassware over 20 years ago.   Now, her vast collection is includes the unique Wildflower pattern (the pattern on display), which  she happened to come across as an adult at a local garage sale.

"She had three pieces left out of a service for 16 of the Laurel pattern, which is a milky greenish color," Boschen said, referring to her grandmother.  "It took me seven to eight years to collect a service of 16 but that's what my grandmother had and I wanted to have the same thing. Collecting connects us with the past, yesteryear to today."

Boschen added, "I saw the wildflower stemware, six pieces and six salad plates. I asked the owner how much they cost, and she told me $25 for all 12 pieces.  That's how it started and 20 years later I have a couple of hundred pieces. And I use them all the time. I tell people at the shows all the time what is the use of having beautiful things if you aren't going to use them?"

The Wildflower stemware Boschen referred to is part of the Elegant Depression glass line.  It's much more valuable and has a much finer hand finish than regular Depression glass, according to avid collectors. 

"It is an elegant pattern, in clear crystal, very pretty with etching all over," said Helen Guglielmo, who is also a member of the Long Island Depression Glass Society, Ltd. "You could find them in a good jewelry store or at an upscale department store and they were always expensive."

Guglielmo, a Babylon Village resident, said the patterns that are on display were made during the 1940s and 50s by the Cambridge Glass Company of Ohio.  Both types of glass received their name because they were manufactured during the Great Depression.  However, Elegant Depression glass was still being produced after the depression era, all the way into the early 60s. 

"The more common Depression glass, which comes in every color of the rainbow, was sold in the five-and-dime stores or as grocery store giveaways when you spent a certain amount of money," Guglielmo said.

Both Boschen and Guglielmo run shows together throughout Long Island and also hold auctions.  Boschen's collection can be seen at the Manor during regular tour hours, 1 p.m.- 4 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. For more information, please visit www.sagtikosmanor.com.