Mid-Century Collection of Blenko "Pinch" Vases
View Similar Items
Mid-Century Collection of Blenko "Pinch" Vases
About the Item
- Creator:Blenko Glass (Maker)
- Dimensions:Height: 6.5 in (16.51 cm)Diameter: 5.5 in (13.97 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 5
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1960s
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Wilton, CT
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU92901269912
Blenko Glass
A producer of hand-blown glass since 1893, Blenko Glass is currently headquartered in Milton, West Virginia, where it has operated since 1921. Among its many illustrious projects are the stained-glass windows it produced for St. Patrick’s Cathedral and the Washington National Cathedral. Blenko is known today for the brilliant colors of its glass vessels and objects—particularly those produced in the 1950s and ’60s—which range from jewel-like blues and greens to brilliant reds and yellows.
The company was founded by William J. Blenko, an English immigrant who was apprenticed to a glassmaker in his native London as a young man. Blenko developed expertise in the production of rondels, the round panes used in stained glass windows. His interest in the potential of natural gas to fire glass furnaces led him to Milton, where abundant reserves of the fuel had attracted a pool of skilled glassblowers. Under the name Eureka Glass, his company began making window glass in 1923, and in 1925, he was joined in the business by his son, William H. Blenko.
When the Great Depression quelled demand for stained glass, William J. Blenko brought local Milton glassblowers into the company to begin producing stem- and tableware, products for which the company, which changed its name to Blenko in 1930, is now best known. Up until the end of World War II, Blenko’s tableware designs were fairly straightforward, and they sold well at American department such as Gump’s, in San Francisco. The company was also commissioned in 1930 to produce a line of reproductions for Colonial Williamsburg.
In 1947, the company hired as its art director Winslow Anderson, who introduced artful, fanciful and modern vessels and objects in vibrant colors. This began what collectors refer to as Blenko’s “historic period.” A number of Anderson’s designs were honored by the Museum of Modern Art’s Good Design Awards in 1950, and throughout the 1950’s and ‘60s, the company enjoyed robust sales and critical acclaim. The forms Blenko produced during this period followed the contemporary vogue for biomorphism, or organic modernism, which favored rounded and fluid shapes inspired by nature.
One of Blenko’s most influential designers, Wayne Husted, who was active from 1953 to ’63, is credited with aligning Blenko’s products with the prevailing mid-century modern aesthetic by pushing the envelope on both form and color, particularly in his wedge-cut and Spool decanters and his Echoes series. Joel Philip Myers, who designed for Blenko in the 1960s, brought a sense of whimsy and visual excess to the product line, in keeping with the psychedelic look favored during the period.
Blenko Glass still produces many of its classic designs in items ranging from stemware and tableware to decorative objects and ornamental decanters. Among collectors, pieces created under Husted’s creative direction are of special interest. The company has come to the attention of younger audiences through the documentaries Blenko: Hearts of Glass and Blenko Retro: Three Designers of American Glass, both of which aired on PBS. Blenko also designed the glass award trophy for the Country Music Awards.
- Rare Dorothy Thorpe Silver Rim Wine Glasses, Set of 4By Dorothy ThorpeLocated in Wilton, CTRare Dorothy Thorpe silver rim wine glass.Category
Mid-20th Century American Glass
MaterialsSilver
$60 Sale Price / set20% Off - 19th Century Crystal Glass Ships Decanters, Pair for Whiskey and GinLocated in Wilton, CTGorgeous gin and whiskey crystal decanters from the 1800s. These magnificent pair were designed for use on ships. The wide bottoms were to keep them stable when the ship lists. They ...Category
Antique Late 19th Century English Late Victorian Barware
MaterialsCrystal
$960 Sale Price / set20% Off - Pair of Vintage Mid-Century Armchairs by Carlos MilanBy Carlos MilanLocated in Wilton, CTThe warm brown color of this chair’s slender frame beautifully complements the cool gray upholstery of the tufted seat. Carved from rosewood, the chair boasts gracefully carved arm rests, classic...Category
Vintage 1970s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsUpholstery, Rosewood
- Pair of Mid-Century Mahogany End Tables in Dusty PinkLocated in Wilton, CTOffering a pair of expertly restored 1950’s American 2-drawer end tables. This petite and charming pair have been crafted from mahogany, with its painted frame and drawer face staine...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern End Tables
MaterialsBrass
- Mid-Century Modern Teak Coffee TableBy Dux of SwedenLocated in Wilton, CTThis Mid-Century Modern coffee table is sleek and stylish in design. The teak table top has a beautiful wood grain and constructed with elegant, slender tapered legs. Incredibly unde...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
MaterialsTeak
- Mid-Century Lucite Tufted White Vinyl BenchLocated in Wilton, CTMid-Century custom tufted white vinyl bench with Lucite legs. Very well made and striking mid-1970s piece that may be used in any number of interior design...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Benches
- Collection of Large Blenko Glass PiecesBy Blenko GlassLocated in St.Petersburg, FLA collection of large, red-orange Blenko pieces, largest measuring 33.25" H.Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Glass
$5,500 / set - 1980s Blenko Purple Paper Bag Blown Art Glass Vase American Mid-Century ModernBy Blenko GlassLocated in Miami, FLPurple Blenko sculptural Paper Bag blown art glass vase, vessel, geometric shape made in America 1980. The sculptural purple transparent glass body look...Category
Vintage 1980s American Mid-Century Modern Vases
MaterialsArt Glass
- Blenko Attributed Large Amberina Ombre Art Glass VaseBy Blenko GlassLocated in Bishop's Stortford, HertfordshireA very fine, stylish and unusual mid-century mallet shaped art glass vase in amberina orange and red glass. The vase has a pepper rounded gourd shape body with molded ribbing running...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Vases
MaterialsBlown Glass
- Wayne Husted for Blenko Vintage Rare Purple Glass Vase with Nipple ProtrusionsBy Blenko Glass, Wayne HustedLocated in North Miami, FLThis rare and obscure signed Blenko vase or vessel is a luscious color of light purple. It was designed by Wayne Husted for Blenko and was most likely an...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Glass
MaterialsBlown Glass
- Lidded Glass Jar Designed by John Nickerson for BlenkoBy Blenko Glass, John NickersonLocated in New York, NYNice lidded vessel in blue crackle glass designed by John Nickerson, produced by Blenko. This example is in perfect condition, it is an uncommon blu...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Jars
MaterialsArt Glass
- Blown Glass Amberina Tangerine Jug Designed by John Nickerson for BlenkoBy Blenko Glass, John NickersonLocated in Brooklyn, NYBlown glass jug designed by John Nickerson and manufactured by Blenko. This design first appeared in the 1972 Blenko catalog as model number 7226S. Large size and attractive amberina...Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Bottles
MaterialsBlown Glass
