PHOTO BY TOM KITTS
As you can see, Fran Jay runs a glass act at her shop in Lambertville, not to mention her mail order business.
By Kristen McLaughlin
FOR THE STAR LEDGER
Nearly 30 years ago, Fran Jay was hunting
through a second-hand store when she came across a boxful of green plates, cups and
saucers.
"How much for these?" she inquired "Two dollars for everything," said
the proprietor.
"Sold," said Jay, never dreaming that, at that moment, her whole life was
changing.
A few weeks later, in an antiques shop, she discovered some green glass plates exactly
like hers. They were marked "Depression glass," but here each plate was selling
for $2.
She’d picked up a real bargain but was not sure what Depression glass was.
At the Englishtown flea market, Jay found a book about different kinds of glass and began
reading. She learned that "Depression glass" was the name given to inexpensive,
machine made glass from the ‘30s. "Depression-era glass" and "elegant
glass" were the terms used to describe more expensive glass made during that same
time by reputable manufacturers such as Fostoria, Heisey and Cambridge.
The more Jay read, the more interested she became – and she started watching for
Depression glass at second-hand stores, yard sales and flea markets. The colors and
patterns intrigued her; when she discovered a creamer or butter dish or bowl at a good
price, che couldn’t help buying it. Little by little, her collection mounted.
At the same time, Jay was studying about other antiques and collectibles, and finding some
pretty good bargains. She decided that she’d try to make extra money by renting a
table at the Englishtown flea market and sell some of her finds. The next weekend, she got
her table and within two hours, she’d made $90 – exactly what she earned in a
whole week working as a nurse.Jay decided she should be spending her time buying and
selling antiques.
The only problem wat that what she most loved way buying Depression glass and elegant
glass, but these items weren’t selling very well at Englishtown – or anywhere in
New Jersey for that matter. So Jay came to the flea market armed with things like Bakelite
bracelets that she’d pick up for 5 cents and sell for $5. But she’d also get
there early and buy uo andy Depression glass she could find.When she had ammassed enough
stock, she took out an ad in the Antique Trader and opened up a mail-order business.
Although it was not popular in New Jersey, Depression glass was becoming a hot collectible
in places like California and Texas.
The venture proved so successful that a few years later, whle continuing to run her
mail-order business,Jay decided to take a booth at Renninger’s in Adamstown, Pa. She
later opened a shop in Flemington, and after several years there moved to Lambertville.
Today, located at 10 Church St. In Lambertville, Fran Jay is the East Coast’s largest
dealer in Depression and elegant glass. Her mail-order business is flourishing, and her
spacious, one room shop is a feast for the eyes with its dazzling array of plates, cups,
bowls and elegant stemware – all of which are artistically lit from below and
arranged by color: reds, blues, greens, pinks, purples, golds, blacks and crystal.
The lighting makes the glass seem to glow, exerting a kind of mesmerizing effect on even
casual browsers who wander around "just looking" at patterns called Cherry
Blossom and Cracked Ice, Kaffee Klatch, Lake Komo and Golden Glory. Readingthese names
with their compelling rhythms, one wonder if maybe – just maybe – it
wouldn’t hurt to bring home one piece . . .
This, however, is how an addiction begins. If you’re not careful, pretty soon
you’re buying books on Carnival glass and Crackle glass, Candlewick, Fenton and
Westmoreland.
Suddenly, you’re finding yourself deep in conversation discussing the merits of
Heisey glass vs. Imperial; you’re taking out a subscription to "The Daze, the
nation’s marketplace for glass, china and pottery"; you’re going on-line to
check out www.glassshow.com where Fran Jay herself can be found in Aisle 2 with an
absolutely gargantuan listing of all her wares.You’ll be considering everything from
a pink Adam candy dish for $135 to a yellow Jubilee tumbler for $50 to a green Woolworth
plate for $12.
You’ll be willing to pay $175 for a Mayfair Open Rose blue salt shaker because, as
you’ve discovered through your research and newfound knowledge, you just can’t
locate them anywhere.
Be forewarned then, if youfind yourself antiquing in Lambertville, that Fran Jay’s
– however pretty – is a risky place to visit. Those who choose to disregard this
warning can find her shop open from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily. The telephone number is
(609) 397-1571.