Ed and Carol Staley live in a house of glass.

The Modesto couple's home is filled with it, specifically Depression glass. The Staleys have amassed about 9,600 pieces.

Yes, 9,600. And that is a conservative estimate. "We've started to do inventory at least four times but have never finished," said Carol, 59.

Except for the bathrooms, every room in their home — including the garage — displays glass collections. Shelves, curios and display cabinets are filled with it.

There are dishes and decanters, candlestick holders, coasters and cups. They have lanterns and lamps, plates and platters.

There is clear glass and opaque glass. There is colorless glass, pink glass, green glass and blue glass, and that covers only a handful of represented colors. They don't own any "new" glassware. They prefer to use their vintage glass.

The Staleys rarely — if ever — use their dishwasher. All glass is carefully hand washed. One time, it took about three months for them to wash 2,200 pieces in three large display cabinets.

Though the exact wording differs, first-time visitors make pretty much the same comment as they take in the enormity of the Staleys' collection. "They say, 'I've never seen so much glass in my life,'" said Ed, 58.

Those who think they don't know what Depression glass is usually have an "aha" moment when they see it. Many realize they've seen pieces in the homes of older family members or acquaintances. Some recall using Depression-era plates and cups when they ate at the old Woolworth's lunch counters ages ago.

Webster's New World Dictionary defines Depression glass as glassware mass produced during the Great Depression. The National Depression Glass Association defines it as American glassware made from the early to mid-1920s through the end of World War II. Some glass made in the late 1800s and from the 1950s through 1980 is also considered Depression glass.

Besides manufacture dates, Depression glass falls into two categories: machine-made glass and hand-blown or elegant glass. Machine-made glass was manufactured in in bulk, inexpensively. Mom-and-pop stores gave it away as promotional items. Movie theaters offered it to patrons. Cereal and flour companies packaged it with their goods.

Elegant glass, a term coined by glass author Gene Florence, refers to glass that was hand blown or pressed. The final step in making elegant glass was grinding and polishing the bottom of the piece to give it a smooth surface.

The Staleys' extensive collection includes machine-made and elegant Depression glass from the turn of the century to the mid-1960s.

When Ed started collecting — a decade before even meeting Carol — he frequented garage and estate sales. Now, the Staleys mainly acquire pieces through stores, antiques shops and shows.

Crystal-clear expertise

When discussing their glass, the Staleys virtually are walking encyclopedias. The couple know the history of major Depression glass manufacturers and can identify the patterns and colors of specific pieces or explain how they were made.

The etched jug on a shelf in the living room? A Doulton-style pitcher in Rose Point, made by Cambridge Glass Co.

"It's the first piece I ever purchased," said Ed.

The pink heart-shaped candy dish in a hall curio?

"It's called Flower Garden with Butterflies," he said. "There are only four or five of these (known of) in the United States."

Their oldest piece? An 1899 rose bowl with a satin finish by Fostoria.

When he started collecting in 1988, all Ed saw was a lucrative venture. "Honestly, I looked at the glassware as a savings account," he said. "Some people have their money in a bank. I have mine in glass on a shelf."

His favorite piece is a 1927 amber Life Saver decanter by McKee. Carol doesn't have a favorite piece, but her favorite collection is Lafayette by Fostoria. It's dichromatic, meaning that its color looks different depending on the light. Under incandescent light, it's pinkish-lavendar; under fluorescent light, it appears grayish-green.

"I love the look of it," she said. "It's simple yet elegant. I love the color. It makes me feel good."

The Staleys attend a few shows each year, bringing some of their collections to display. They carefully pack their items and drive — even to shows out of state. Flying is out of the question. They don't want anyone else handling their breakables.

Next year, the couple won't have to go far to attend the National Depression Glass Association's 33rd Annual Convention. Ed Staley convinced the group's board of directors to bring the July show to Modesto. At least 2,000 people from across the country are expected to attend. Ed is the show chairman.

Ed and Carol's mutual affinity for Depression glass brought them together. It was 1998 and Carol had just started collecting. She had a single pink Depression glass candle holder she inherited from her grandmother. She didn't know anything about the piece and was looking for a match. She called a local antiques dealer, who called Ed.

The two met and Ed brought one of his books for Carol to peruse. She found her candlestick holder, a piece made between 1932 and 1934 by Jeanette Glass Co. in a pattern called Adam.

Ed found a matching candlestick for Carol. And he won her heart. They've been married five years.

Though the couple handle their pieces with care, they don't go overboard. In fact, they allow their grandchildren — even the 2-year-old — to use pieces when they visit.

"It's just a matter of training," Carol said. "The kids learn how to handle all the different pieces. I trust them."

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