What is the difference between carnival glass and depression glass?

Answer 1

Carnival glass is iridescent and strictly speaking, true carnival glass was made around 1910 to early 1920s. It was originally viewed as cheap, eye-catching glass given away at fairs and carnivals, hence the name. It is quite collectible now. You will find blue, green and marigold orange tones, all with the characteristic iridescent finish.

Carnival glass was pressed and had many patterns with different motifs. Most shapes were decorative pieces like bowls or vases and some beverage sets.

Glass companies have made iridescent glass since then of course, and this later glass is sometimes called carnival. You can find glass from the 1970s and even later from companies like Indiana Glass or Fenton that are iridescent blue, purple, green, orange.

Depression glass was mass produced in sets, usually meant for lunch or dinner, during the 1930s. It was usually but not always colored, usually transparent pink, amber, yellow, purple, blue, red, green or white. The patterns were pressed and could be made cheaply. Must depression glass was originally given away as premiums when one purchased something or the housewife could buy additional pieces by mail order. The white glass is translucent and not transparent.

You will see colored glass that was made much later than the 1930s sometimes called depression glass. It really isn't true depression glass but has similar styles.

So the main differences: time period, colors, iridescent vs. transparent (or translucent), the shapes, whether it was available in sets for table use, where it came from. You will find a lot of people use the terms carnival or depression to indicate a style and not to indicate an era.