Glass Show & Sale Coming to Chicagoland
20-30-40 Glass Society of Illinois Celebrates its 50th Anniversary
The 50th Annual Glass Show & Sale will take place on March 11 and 12, 2023 at the Concord Plaza Midwest Conference Center, 401 W. Lake St., Northlake, IL 62164.
The event organizer, the 20-30-40 Glass Society of Illinois, will celebrate its 50th anniversary featuring more than 20 dealers from across the U.S. who specialize in Depression, Elegant, Carnival, Pattern, Art, Mid-Century Modern Glass, pottery and utensils. The Society expects dealers will offer Uranium Glass, Swung Vases, Jadeite and many other treasures.
Joanne Donovan, Publicity Chair of the Society, says, “There truly is something for every collector whether you’re a beginner of established. A unique source for designers looking for that special touch. Come find that elusive item of glass you’ve been looking for.”
Other features will be a reference library staffed with knowledgeable members of the Society helping with your glass identification; repair opportunities for your chipped stemware by MaryLow’s Crystal Repair; hourly door prizes; and special 50th Year retrospective video and glass display.
The 50th Annual Glass Show & Sale
◆Date and Time:
. Mar/11 (Sat) 10 am – 5 pm
. Mar/12 (Sun) 11 am – 4 pm
◆Location: Concord Plaza Midwest Conference Center
401 W. Lake St., Northlake, IL 62164
◆Admission: $11 per person/ $10 with this card or photo
◆Parking: Free with a free shuttle bus to the front door
About the 20-30-40 Glass Society of Illinois
The 20-30-40 Glass Society of Illinois is a LaGrange based not-for-profit social organization under section 501(c)(7). The Society’s purpose is to gain more knowledge of American-made glassware in the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s and to further its preservation. The club members deepen their knowledge through the study of American glassware manufactures and the glass making process and share a common bond; a love of the beauty of glass and the pleasure of collecting.
The society holds Club Meetings every two months, and a typical one is giving a short presentation by one of the club members on a topic related to glass collecting, a specific pattern or company of a glassware product or a glassmaking process after a cozy luncheon.
The society publishes a bimonthly newsletter to inform its members up to date on events and share articles related to American-made glassware and pottery. Each issue is sprinkled with many photographs.
The society members arrange bus trips to visit a museum, antique mall, glass factory or other activities. Those bus trips are planned and designed for fellowship and to have fun, to enhance the members’ appreciation and knowledge of the art and history of glass making, especially, glassware made in America during the depression era.
Importantly the Society maintains a research library which consists of many reference books on glass and related topics. Those publications are available to the members during and after regular meetings. A list of the publications is available at www.librarything.com/catalog/20s30s40s.
History of the 20-30-40 Glass Society of Illinois
The 20-30-40 Glass Society of Illinois is one of the most active and enduring collecting clubs in the country.
In May 1972, several glass collectors gathered in Joliet, Illinois, to share their common interest in glass collecting, specifically Depression Glass, and the 20-30-40 Society was immediately created after the first meeting.
By the end of 1973, the Society’s membership grew to 105 people who came from Indiana, Iowa, Michigan and southern Illinois.
According to the Society’s website, “Early hunting for Depression Glass was very intriguing, as most antique dealers had the glass ‘under table’ and at flea markets you could buy a ‘bushel’ of glass for a few dollars.”
In that background, the popularity and appreciation of Depression Glass grew, and the Society also grew bigger. In 1979 the Society received its not-for-profit charter from the State of Illinois, and the membership increased to 230 in the 1980s.
The Society incorporated as a not-for profit 501(c)(7) on May 20, 2005 and expanded its name to “The 20-30-40 Glass Society of Illinois.”
Since its inception, the Society has sponsored a Chicagoland Depression Era Glass Show & Sale with the highest standards of quality and best selection of dealers from across the U.S.
Throughout the half century, the Society has brought seminars, a glass grinder, beautiful glass displays including some of the rarest and hard to find glass treasures to the annual Show. An extensive reference library and hospitality are always there. Many celebrities have visited the Show including authors like Hazel Marie Weatherman, Gene Florence and Dean Six, and appraiser of antiques Grace Carolyn Dahlberg to name a few.
More information about the 20-30-40 Glass Society of Illinois is available at http://20-30-40glasssociety.org.