How a Patent Dispute Led to My Favorite Depression Glass Pattern

Federal Mayfair cup and saucer

I caught “Antique Pox” at the tender age of 16.  To my knowledge, there is no cure, though it does go into remission from time to time.  Other than the occasional hit to the wallet, the symptoms are usually pretty easy to live with, unless you are prone to cross-country moves.  In that case, Antique Pox can cause some lower back pain if you don’t work on your box-lifting technique. 

In my own case, the most enduring “symptom” of my disease is my collection of Depression Glass.  I collect 2 very similar patterns that were made by the Federal glass company of Columbus, Ohio.  The reason the patterns are very similar is an interesting story. 

Back in 1934*, the Federal glass company released a pattern they called “Mayfair”.  Federal “Mayfair” features roses, arches and a waffled design, and was produced in amber, green, and clear glass.    Unfortunately, another glass company (Hocking) had already patented a pattern called “Mayfair”, and Federal was forced to make some changes.  In addition to the name, which they changed to “Rosemary”, they also re-designed the molds, at least twice.  The most noticeable difference between the two patterns being that they removed the waffling in the arches.  The result is that “Rosemary” is a much simpler, though no less attractive, pattern. 

Federal Rosemary plate, cup and saucer

Rosemary was produced between 1935 and 1937, and in addition to amber and green, was also available in pink.  I’ve rarely ever seen pink or green pieces in this pattern.  The only crystal piece in either pattern that I’ve ever seen had a large chip in it, so it didn’t come home with me. Every piece I own, of both patterns, is in amber.  When I began my collection(s) in the mid-1990’s, just about any Depression Glass pattern was more abundant and more affordable in amber than in other colors.

I love to bring out my Mayfair/Rosemary glass in the fall, when the amber color mixes nicely with greens, oranges and reds.  It looks pretty with pastels in Spring, too.

*Florence, Gene (1992)  The Collector’s Encyclopedia of Depression Glass, Revised Tenth Edition. Paducah, KY: Collector Books