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Ad Rates / Articles / Classified Ads / Editorial / Home / Links / Showtime   Antiques and Collectibles Articles   Follow the arrows to other stories Vintage glass ice buckets come in all shapes and colours   By Walter Lemiski While the title of this article is Vintage Glass Ice Buckets, there really were two styles of ice containers produced from the 1930s onwards. The typical ice bucket measured approximately six inches in height and was affixed with a metal handle. The generally smaller ice tub averaged 3-1/2 inches in height and more often than not had tab handles molded out of glass. Both styles of container were produced from the 1930s onwards.   For barware items from the Depression Era on through the Eames Era, glass was king Whether they were cocktail shakers, ice buckets, old fashioneds, high balls, pilseners, shot glasses, they were most frequently made of glass. Yes, there were those chrome plated or silver plated shakers, and buckets, and some (ugh!) plastic ones, but these were not the rage.   One of the most notable characteristics of glass ice buckets from the 1930s and 40s was colour. Aside from the clear glass buckets that collectors call “crystal”, they were also made in the typical Depression Glass colours of green, pink, yellow and amber. They were also available, although less frequently, in such colours as amethyst, aquamarine, light blue, cobalt blue, black and red. Beyond the lovely array of colours for these ice buckets, there was also a myriad of decorations. Glass ice buckets may be found with etched patterns, cut patterns, with gold or platinum decorations, with molded patterns and with hand painting. The glass may also have internal patterns within the glass; so-called optic patterns such as diamonds, panels, honeycombs. To complete their ice buckets. glass companies fitted them with matching metal handles and tongs ordered from outside firms.   There is quite a range of variety in these metal additions. M. W. Carr of West Somerville, Massachusetts provided the metal tongs for the Westmoreland Glass Company amongst others. They promoted themselves as being “The largest manufacturer of ice tub handles, ice tongs, and strainers … polished nickel, polished silver or brush gold finishes.” The best innovation for bails came with the introduction of the Chromium plated handle. These handles last wonderfully, usually with absolutely no sign of corrosion. Occasionally the same firms provided decorative perforated metal liners to keep the ice above the melted drippings.   By adding a cover to their ice buckets companies created new items. For instance, with the Liberty Glass Company – their ice bucket turned into a cookie jar when given a lid. Note that traditional cookie jars generally do not have metal bails (half hoop handle), although the Fenton macaroon jars do have wicker handles. The Cambridge “Tally Ho” ice buckets, outfitted with Chromium plated handles, were converted into cookie jars or pretzel jars with the addition of a lid, and the second item would fit very nicely into a bar ware theme. The Duncan Miller Glass Company, located in Washington, Pennsylvania, seemingly in an effort to confuse writers and researchers in later years, always called handleless ice containers “ice buckets” – not “ice tubs” as most other companies. Most resent day collectors have also taken to calling them “buckets”. To add to the puzzle, Duncan Miller also sold their “ice buckets” as vases! From the late 1940s through to the 1960s ice tubs were more in vogue. The colours of the Depression Era were out, and in came mainly crystal items. The crystal ice tubs of the post war era were frequently decorated with silk screenings in white, black, red or pink of items such as Scottie Dogs, pink elephants, and circus scenes. A selection of ice buckets or ice tubs can make quite a splendid collection. Such is the variety of styles and decorations that one really should first decide whether to collect ice tubs or ice buckets and also whether to collect Elegant Glass items or the more mass produced Depression Glass items. Whichever you choose to collect, ice buckets would provide a splendid overview of the styles of glass produced by the best-known American glass companies throughout the 20th century.   Cheers! Photo 1: Liberty Works ice bucket/cookie jar (1929): Paden City #191. Party Line ice bucket.   Photo 2: Hazel Atlas "Pink Elephants" ice tub (c. 1955)   Walter Lemiski is the director of the Canadian Depression Glass Association. He also runs the bi-annual Vintage Glass Show & Sale (previously called the Toronto Depression Glass Show) to be held Saturday, Nov. 17. You can also view some of his glass at the Shakespeare Antique Centre. He has also published two recent books, Elegant Glass with Cornflower, and Glass Barware: Deco & Beyond. For more information, e-mail Walt at walt@waltztime.com or visit www.waltztime.com   Other articles by Walt Lemiski: Crazy For Cornflower     Return to top of page   This Is Livin' Publishing © 2007 581 8th Line West, RR1 Hastings, ON, K0L 1Y0 Phone/Fax: 705-696-1833   webmaster