Hocking’s Ribbed Depression Glass Patterns at Cat Lady Kate’s Glass Hocking Glass’ Depression glass patterns with ribbed designs include Queen Mary, Manhattan, Fortune and Old Café. These attractive patterns are fun to collect and use.
Queen Mary was one of Hocking Glass’ patterns available in crystal, pink and limited ruby red. (Crystal depression glass means it is clear.) England crowned King George V in 1910 , making his wife, Mary of Teck, Queen Mary. Americans were interested in royalty in the 1930s and using names like “Queen Mary” or “Coronation” drew upon that fascination and glamour. Hocking introduced Queen Mary in 1936.
Queen Mary is strongly ribbed, with vertical pointed ribs. If you look down the top of a coffee cup you can see that the ribs are triangular shaped and end in points. About the only other pattern with vertical ribs is Jeannette’s Anniversary and the shapes are completely different. Anniversary has an impressed star in the center and the tops of the ribs are indented. You are not likely to mistake these two designs. Heisey’s Ridgeleigh has ribs but you can clearly differentiate by quality of glass and the ribs in Queen Mary are more pointed and sharp.
Queen Mary came in a complete dinner service, plates, cups, bowls and serving pieces such as relish trays, creamer, sugar and platters. The tumblers are scarce. Particularly nice pieces are the candlestick, covered butter or preserves bowl and the 3-part relish that is shaped like a cloverleaf. The candlestick is one of the cutest pieces of depression glass and looks like a saguaro cactus with room for two candles. The butter is shown in the composite photo. It is larger than many butter dishes and shaped like a bowl with a lid. It is sometimes listed as a preserves bowl since it could serve jam or condiments and it is big enough to serve small items on your dinner table.
When buying Queen Mary watch out for roughness and chips in the vertical ribs. The ribs are sharp and easy to chip. If you are like many people, you check the top rims and seams, but you will want to check the sides. We’ve mistakenly bought several pieces with perfect rims but gouges on the sides. Also check the candlestick around the candle holes to be sure there are no cracks, and look at inner and outer rims of bowls and plates.
Manhattan is also from Hocking and was made towards the later part of the Depression, 1938 to 1943, primarily in crystal and pink. Manhattan is unique among Depression patterns with wide rounded ribs that are horizontal. These ribs are softer and smooth to the touch. Manhattan is pure Art Deco style. Take a look at the vase shown in the composite picture to see the combination of round and square.
Anchor Hocking released a look-alike pattern in the 1970s called Park Avenue with the same horizontal ribs. The plates and comport are the shapes to take care with. You can best identify Manhattan plates with your measuring ruler because the Park Avenue plates are exactly inches. Identify the comport by checking the wafers on the stem. Manhattan has four wafers and Park Avenue
