You'll be shocked by the current value of Anchor Hocking Depression Glass

Named after the nearby Hocking River, the Hocking Glass Company was founded in 1905 in Lancaster, Ohio, by Isaac Collins and a few partners. In its first year of business, the company produced and sold a whopping $20,000 worth of glassware (equivalent to about $516,000 in today’s dollars). By 1929, with the advent of a machine that automatically pressed glass, Hocking had become the largest producer of what we now call Depression glass, an inexpensive but elegant glassware that sold for between 4 and 25 cents each.

The Miss America pattern (shown here; plates courtesy of Replacements, Inc.), produced between 1935 and 1937, proved to be one of the company’s best sellers. It came in pink, crystal, green, ice blue and red in plates, tumblers, pitchers and more. After surviving the Great Depression, Hocking Glass merged with Anchor Cap and Closure to become the Anchor Hocking Company, as its name suggests.

Marsha Dixey, an appraiser at Heritage Auctions*, notes that overall, Miss America pieces have dropped in value by about 30 percent since 2008, but a full eight-person service can cost up to $1,000, depending on the color. Pink is the most popular color among collectors today.

Many individual pieces are available for less than $10, but serving pieces such as vegetable bowls, platters, condiment plates, compotes and water glasses or mugs sell for $15 to $20 or more. A large fruit bowl, for example, can fetch an auction price of $35. She notes that, as with most glassware, condition plays a big role in value.

*Appraisal values updated March 2024 by appraiser Marsha Dixey of Heritage Auctions. These values were calculated by averaging auction prices from different sources and may differ from prices for the same item offered for sale by a private dealer. The value of an auction is loosely based on the rarity, condition, and desirability (bidding activity) of a specific manufacturer, shape, or model.

A Brief History of the Hocking Anchor

Here are some highlights of the company’s legacy.

1938: Royal Ruby

The dark red Royal Ruby is launched under the new company name Anchor Hocking.

royal ruby anchor hocking cream pot, all images in this historical section are illustrations on a blue and white gingham background — Illustration by Melinda Josie

1942: Jadeite

Hello Jadeite! Fire-King brand of oven-safe borosilicate glass is hitting shelves. Find out how much that prized bowl your grandmother passed down is worth in our Jadeite Collector’s Guide.