Why We Like Federal Georgian Lovebirds Depression Glass
Federal Glass made many important depression glass patterns. We’ll give tips to collect and enjoy a mold-etched bird and swag pattern, Georgian Lovebirds, this month.Federal made several well known mold-etched designs including Georgian Lovebirds, with a really neat design that alternates birds and baskets around the edge, connected by swags, and with a medallion in the center. Federal made Georgian from 1931 to 1936 so it is one of their earlier depression patterns.
Federal made a lot of green and amber depression glass, with some crystal (clear), pink and blue. Georgian came almost exclusively in green although my reference books mention some crystal and amber. We have several pieces of green Georgian Lovebirds in our stores www.CatladykatesGlass.com and www.Catladykate.com.Depression glass is known for having flaws such as rough seams, bubbles, strawmarks and such. Federal Glass patterns certainly will have bubbles and strawmarks, but they fewer protruding seams you will see in other companies’ wares. The colors are consistent so you won’t have to hunt for pieces to match what you have. Georgian is a medium priced pattern for most pieces in today’s markets. Cups and sherbets, for example, are in the $10-18 range, while dinner plates are $35-60, serving bowls about $70. Since people broke tumblers more than most pieces, drinking glasses are pricey pieces, about $100-125 for a water glass. There are two sizes of tumblers.Georgian has some interesting pieces, a butter dish with lid, hot plate and a cold cuts server. The cold cuts server is a wooden lazy susan with seven hot plates sunk into round recesses. Interestingly, there is no pitcher, candleholder, salt and pepper shaker, stemware or vase in Georgian.There are two sizes of creamers and sugars. The two sizes are shaped about the same, just one is much larger. It’s something you’ll want to be careful of.
There are two different dinner plates, too. One has the familiar lovebirds and basket design and the other plate has only the rim border and center medallion. Both styles are accepted as authentic Georgian by Federal Glass. I’ve often wondered why they made two styles.
There is misinformation about Federal’s Glass, including articles on the internet stating that pieces that do not have the F in a shield mark are reproductions. This is not true. I contacted the noted author and depression glass expert Barbara Mauzy and confirmed Georgian has not been reproduced. Enjoy your glass and don’t worry whether some pieces are marked. Saucers, cups and sherbets can be marked or not.
The design is wonderful, with rounded triangle cartouches that frame pairs of birds alternating with baskets. The pairs of birds give this pattern its nickname “Lovebirds”. The triangles are connected by swags of leaves and the center of each piece has an elaborate medallion design. This glass is mold-etched. That means the mold was etched with the design and the glass was then pressed. The design is recessed on the mold so the pattern is raised on the surface of the glass. Mold etching was an innovative method to mass produce large quantities of glass with intricate patterns without the expense and hand labor of individually etched pieces.Federal made another pattern with parrots, called Parrot, but you should not have any problems distinguishing Parrots from Georgian. The Parrot pattern lacks the baskets, the birds are larger and the pieces were square while Georgian pieces are round. Indiana’s Lorain pattern also has baskets with swags, but it does not have the birds and the pieces are square and often have rough seams and inner rim roughness. You won’t have a problem telling Georgian from Lorain.When you buy Georgian there aren’t any spots that you need to be especially wary of, just be sure to check carefully for wear on the surface or nicks on the rim. Georgian plates and rimmed pieces are round and don’t have protruding points or sharp edges that are likely to chip. You should check the rims on the plates to be sure they don’t have rough spots, but this design has more a sloped rim that is less prone to roughness than designs with a sharply defined inner rim.Federal’s Georgian Lovebirds is an excellent choice if you want to collect depression glass. Pieces are available; it isn’t prone to damage; it hasn’t been reproduced; the design is appealing and pretty in green. Come and try a piece or two.
