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 vases, decanters and other 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.
Blenko's 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 stemware 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 stores 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 1950s 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.
Find vintage Blenko glass for sale on 1stDibs.
$175 / item
Six Blenko Glass Zodiac Box
By Blenko Glass
Located in New York, NY
Set of Blenko art glass zodiac plaques. Being sold individually. There are: 2 Taurus 1 Aries 2 Cancer 1 Libra.
Art Glass
Early Glass Decanter by Blenko
By Blenko Glass
Located in Dallas, TX
Beautiful and early, hand-blown glass decanter by Blinko from 1958. The decanter is in excellent condition and has the acid stamp signature on the bottom.
Art Glass
Don Shepherd Blenko Glass #7820 Bamboo Vase
By Don Sheperd, Blenko Glass, Don Shepherd
Located in New Windsor, NY
Very large and impressive clear glass Bamboo vase designed by Don Shepherd for Blenko Glass, #7820. Due to its large size it's a versatile piece that can feature on a case piece or t...
Glass
Blenko Blue Art Glass Penguin, Free Fast Shipping
Located in Kansas City, MO
Beautiful blue art glass modern penguin sculpture. No chips or repairs. Made by Blenko. Quick shipping.
Art Glass
Blenko Persian Blue Crackle Glass Vase Mid Century
By Blenko Glass
Located in New York, NY
Blenko's "Persian Blue" crackle glass vases were part of the company's Mid-Century Modern designs, popular for their vibrant color and unique texture. Each piece hand blown by an ar...
Blown Glass
Bright Red Blenko Glass Floor Vase
By Blenko Glass
Located in Ferndale, MI
Bright Red 22" tall floor vase produced by Blenko Glass . Triangular shaped body with 7.5" diameter flared opening . Color changes somewhat in different light between orange and red . William Blenko started a sheet glass company in 1921, in Milton, West Virginia because of low natural...
Art Glass
Large Blenko Blown Glass Turquoise Asymmetrical "Ribbed" Vase
By Blenko Glass
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Asymmetrical Blenko vase with ribbed pattern, large in scale (H: 11.25" x L: 8" x D: 4.25") in attractive turquoise palette. The design's first and only appearance was in the 1966 B...
Blown Glass
Midcentury Clear Glass Trumpet Vase by Blenko
By Blenko Glass
Located in San Diego, CA
Fun midcentury clear hand blown glass trumpet vase by Blenko, circa 1970s. The vase is 7" W x 6" D x 15.5" H and in very good condition with n...
Blown Glass
Blenko Glass Promotional Item for Blenko Glass
By Blenko Glass
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An uncommon and handmade glass desk weight in luminous tones of amber and red advertising the Blenko Glass works.
Glass
$475
H 8 in W 6.5 in D 3 in
Vintage Blenko Glass Company Handcrafted Blue Art Glass Vase / Pitcher, 1960s
By Blenko Glass
Located in San Diego, CA
A striking Mid-Century Modern handblown glass vase by Blenko, rendered in a luminous steel-blue tone with subtle variations and internal movement typical of studio production. The fo...
Art Glass
Original Vintage Midcentury Glass Owl Bookends by Blenko
By Blenko Glass
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful pair of midcentury glass owl bookends by Blenko from the 1960s with original signature seal sticker. Incredible craftsmanship and detail in this pair of glass bookends that...
Blown Glass
Blenko Rare Blown Glass Decanter by Don Shepherd Design
By Don Shepherd, Blenko Glass
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful and rare Blenko glass blown decanter with stopper excellent condition no chips or cracks, highly collectible circa 1970's
Blown Glass
American Mid century Blown Glass Vase by Blenko 1970's
By Blenko Glass
Located in San Diego, CA
Gorgeous Blenko glass blown vase in lime green , excellent condition no chips or cracks circa 1970's.
Blown Glass