Fabulous Blenko Glass

By Deborah Allen

I bought my first piece of Blenko glass in 1982 from a local retail store. It was a bowl from the West Virginia landscape series called "Big Sky." What drew me to it were the colors that shaded from the sky blue of the rim to the pale green of the mountains molded into the base. From the tag I learned that the Blenko Glass Co., Inc. was located in "Milton, W.V." and that my bowl was handmade. I got Blenko's catalog and discovered numerous designs I wanted and that many vibrant colors were available.

Twenty-one years and 361 pieces later, I'm still enchanted by Blenko's products. The first thing I notice is the color. Blenko Glass Co. was founded in 1921 by William John Blenko to produce stained glass for architecture. Mr. Blenko had training as a chemist and eventually had over 1,200 formulas for glass colors. When the company added tablewares to its line in the 1930s to stay in business during the Depression, it used the same glowing colors for drinkware, vases, decanters, bowls, etc. To this day, the colors of Blenko stand out in a crowded antique mall or in a retail display.

While I don't think I've seen all 1,200+ variations, I have been able to collect a wide range of reds, yellows, purples, greens, blues, ambers, shaded effects, and one-of-a-kind colors. It is possible to find lilac, amethyst, plum, orchid and violet for purples. Chartreuse, emerald, grass, olive, sea, and peridot are available in green. Blues are numerous: Persian, azure, turquoise (also called "Blenko Blue"), cobalt, peacock, and sky. Ambers range from deep honey through wheat to topaz. Blenko's ruby is deep, unmistakable red. Yellow, or jonquil, will be bright, but can be transparent, translucent, almost opalescent, or opaque.

"Big Sky," "Blue Top Mountain" and "Desert Green" are shaded effects that go from blues to greens to ambers. There are several one-of-kind colors that Blenko used for varying lengths of time, sometimes just a year. Rose, a gorgeous pink with lavender undertones, was available in 1963 and 1964. Charcoal was available longer, but semi-opaque white "Rialto" was made for one year -1960. Alpine blue, a blue/green combination was used for a short period in 1993.

Another great strength of Blenko lies in its designs. In 1947, Mr. W.H. Blenko, Sr. hired his first professional designer, Winslow Anderson, who stayed until 1953. I have 18 of Mr. Anderson's designs, and I want dozens more. All of his designs are clever, sleek and rely on arresting shapes rather than "ruffles and flourishes" for their appeal. His bent neck decanter won the Museum of Modern Art's "Good Design Award" in 1950. As a matter of fact, the one piece I yearn for most, my Holy Grail as it were, is one of Mr. Anderson's crystal glasses with an attached ashtray.

In April of 2000, I was lucky enough to spend two hours with Mr. Anderson at his home. He told me how he came to design the ashtray glasses. He noticed at cocktail parties that with a plate in one hand, a glass in another and a lighted cigarette, there was no place to rest a cigarette or dispose of ashes. Hence, the glass with attached ashtray. Practical but fragile, apparently, because in 21 years of collecting, I've never seen one for sale.

After such a solid and imaginative start, there have been seven other designers at Blenko. They are Wayne Husted (1953­1963), Joel Philip Myers (1963­ 1970), John Nickerson (1970­1975), Don Shepherd (1975­1988), Hank Adams (1988­1994), Chris Gibbons (1994­1995), and Matt Carter (1995­ 2002). Each of them contributed his own artistic vision to Blenko's products. From Anderson to Carter, an atmosphere of originality and daring in design has been encouraged. The result is a radiant array of glassware.

Intense color and striking design make Blenko stand out. However, the company does use labels to identify its glass: a silver foil hand shape that reads "Blenko Handcraft" (until 1982); a square reading "Blenko Handmade" with a silver B and an orange dot (until 1990s); and now an oval with a small silver hand in the center reading "Blenko Handcraft" surrounded by clear border saying, "Made in USA."

Until recently, permanent marks had been used only in 1959 and 1960 when "Blenko" in block letters was sandblasted on the base of the piece. This can be hard to see, and all letters may not be legible, but it serves as instant identification and dating. In 2002, Blenko started sandblasting the year, its name and a hand mark on the bottom of each piece. But what if there is no label or sandblasted mark on the glass?

If the piece is unmarked, I start with the color. Is it a color Blenko made? Is it bright or intense enough? Then I pick up the piece to check its weight. Blenko tends to be heavy for its size. I also look for a rough pontil mark. Some Blenko is molded with a smooth base; those shapes I just have to remember. If the color, weight and pontil mark are right, then it's a question of shape.

Even after years of handling Blenko, studying the books, and looking at the pieces in museums, I'm not always right. I bought a decanter I was sure was Blenko, but it turned out to be a Rainbow Glass Co. piece. In order to specialize, it's necessary to know what's not, as well as what is, Blenko.

Because there used to be hundreds of glass factories in West Virginia that often influenced each other's designs, it is essential to differentiate Blenko from all the rest. For many years, only one book was available, Blenko Glass: 1930-1953 by Eason Eige and Rick Wilson published in 1987, but now out of print. Fortunately, Dr. Leslie Pina wrote a series of books that are the bibles for identification: Blenko Glass: 1962-1971 Catalogs; Blenko: Cool '50s & '60s Glass; Blenko 1972-1983 Catalogs; Blenko Catalogs: Then and Now: 1959-1961, 1984-2001.

Other books with designs from West Virginia glass companies are useful for comparison to Blenko. Collecting Crackle Glass by Judy Alford has catalog pages for Kanawha Glass Co. and Rainbow Art Glass Co., as well as photos of Pilgrim, Viking and other wares similar to Blenko. Dr. Pina has two helpful books: Crackle Glass in Color: Depression to '70s and Crackle Glass Too: 1950-2000. For the serious collector, buying at least the catalog reprints is a must. My copies go with me on every hunt.

I have been able to antique mostly in the Southeast and West Virginia. The Blenko I see most often is the smaller pieces, such as the double-spouted water bottles, pitchers, vases with ruffled tops or applied leaves, free-form ashtrays and paperweights. Decanters are scarcer now than they used to be, and condition is a problem. Blenko is easily marked by liquid, so with vases and decanters, watch for cloudiness.

What about cost? On the Internet, prices at auction can be high, though I've gotten some good deals. In the shops or antique malls, the price depends on the dealer's knowledge and on the presence or absence of a label. Price guides can be misleading, so I use them as only the most general guideline. The most amusing price I ever paid for a piece of Blenko was one quarter of a chocolate cake. Fair market value can be whatever the parties involved decide it is!

Rarity needs to be considered. If I find a piece I've never seen before or have seen only once or twice in 21 years, even if it's more than I would normally pay, I'll go ahead and buy it. Collectors have to be realistic about availability as well as cost.

The most popular shapes seem to be decanters of any size and the huge, architectural floor bottles or vases, which can sell for hundreds of dollars. The most popular colors are the intense jewel tones. Rose is rare, lovely and commands a high price.

I have been told that honey/topaz and the paler greens don't sell as well, but Blenko does such a beautiful job even with them that, if I don't have the shape, I will buy them anyway. Because Blenko's colors are so much of its appeal, crystal is the least popular. I only buy crystal Blenko if I love the shape, and the piece was made only in crystal.

Blenko can be found in all the usual places. Antique shops and malls usually have a piece or two. Occasionally, Blenko is mentioned in an auction list. It's available on the Internet. Because the factory is still in business, Blenko can be found at department stores and gift shops. As we move deeper into the new century, older Blenko from the '30s through the '60s is showing up at glass shows and sales.

Two of my older pieces are teal candlesticks from the late '30s or early '40s that I found at the Peach State Depression Glass Club's show. Since I'm a member of the club, I'm involved with the show every year. The show and sale this year is July 26-27 at the Cobb County Civic Center at 548 South Marietta Parkway, Marietta, Ga. (770-528-8450). It will feature Depression and elegant glass from the '40s, '50s, '60s, and Fenton through the '80s. Glass repair and cloudy glass cleaning will be available, as will glass identification. The special guests are Gene Florence and Margaret Whitmyer, both published authors and experts on collectible glass.

Collecting Blenko has enriched my life. Whatever you may collect, my best wish for you would be the same pleasure as I've had over the last 21 years.

2003

"Big Sky" bowl, 1982, Don Shepherd, 14 1/2" x 15", $80-$125.

Orchid color decanter, 1990s, Hank Adams, 25", $90-$125.

Teal candlesticks, 1930s Blenko design, 6" $40-$75 for the pair.

Amberina color decanter, 1930s, 13 1/2", $30-$60.

Red pitcher, 1950s, Winslow Anderson, 14", $75-$125.

Ruffle top vase, 1930s Blenko design, 7 7/8" tall, $30-$50.

Yellow crackle, bent neck decanter, 1950, Winslow Anderson, 13", $150-$200.

Turquoise blue (Blenko blue), bubble vase, 1959-1960, 9 1/2" tall, $75-$125.