Blenko Water Bottles

Hilary

You goofed when Carolee wrote about wanting to collect with only $20

why didn't you suggest water bottles?

My grandkids collect these and we buy each and every variation. Usually 2 or 3 new ones each year. Not expensive if bought in Milton or at flea markets

Betty

Blenko Sun Face Decanter

Matt, this one is only 19 inches tall, but should not be overlooked.

#6218 Sun face decanter
Available in:
*Topaz
*Tangerine

The Blenko catalogue states:
These colors are 'Limited Availability" colors. It is only made at certain times of the year. If you order any of these lines, it could take up to 3 months for delivery.

Check out the Blenko Glass Visitors Center many items are currently available and for less than the price listed in the catalogue.

WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL TONIGHT

Have you checked out the new collegiate line of tableware available at BLENKO GLASS?

If Marshall or WVU aren't your teams - call BLENKO they have many other TEAM LOGOS.

Support an American Made Glass Company, Buy Blenko Glass.

Made in Milton, West Virginia

304 743 9081.

Another Decanter - Blenko

#1804 Decanter 36 1/4" tall
Available in:
*Topaz
Spring Green
Electric Blue
*Topaz is a "Limited Availability" color. It is only made at certain times of the year. If you order any of these lines, it could take up to 3 months for delivery.

Matt, above info from the Blenko Catalogue, but these are usually available in the VC, the cost of these decanters vary from $250 - $300

but check the Visitors Center - sometimes they are on sale

for 30-70% off.

Blenko Decanters

Available in:
Clover
Electric Blue

Matt, here's another large floor vase - currently available from Blenko.

HJH

Heart of Glass Blog Needs Your Photos

Please send your photos of BLENKO GLASS to theblenkoproject@aol.com
for use in the Heart of Glass Blog.
If you have a story that goes with the glass - we want to share this also.
Remember the photo will be used for the newspaper blog - so it'll be published.
Thank you
Hillary J Homburg
While we prefer BLENKO
we'll gladly accept photot of any West Virginia Glass.

1960's Joel Myers / Blenko

Doctor Glasslady,

I'm sending a photo and description of one awesome Blenko vase currently on ebay. Unlike Mr. Bruce's finds this one isn't dirt cheap but it is still much less than it would be in a NYC or NC gallery. It is in my Ky opionion a steal. Please share with readers. Joel Myers is a great additon to any Blenko Collection.

River

1960'sJOEL PHILIP MYERSLargeElongatedBottle forBLENKO.Up for auction isthis spectacularMid-CenturyModernistArt Glass bottleby PHILIP JOEL MYERSfor BLENKO!This rare and increasinglyhard to find art glass pieceis in perfect condition.It is signed on the bottom:BlenkoJoel P. MyersThis classic piece was designed by the modernist master craftsman whowas theBlenko Design Directorfrom 1963-1970.I believe this piecethe "6427 Bottle" isfrom 1964.This large floor or table bottlemeasuresapproximately22 1/2 inches high.It's base measuresapproximately2 3/4 inches across.The mouth is approximately1 1/4 inch across.This wonderful item has no chips or cracks. It has the normal bubbles associated with this type ofmaster production.The colors are vivid and dynamic.The neck is a strikingturquoise blue and the body is a warm honey color.Don't miss out on this opportunity to own this spectacular and rare piece.
Joel Philip Myers Mid Century Eames Art Glass BLENKO
Item Id:
290353252614

Bayliss - Bravo Collection

Information about the Bravo Collection from the Blenko Glass Company.

Bayliss Design Team presents - The Bravo! Collection
Bravo! Collection is a celebration of Blenko’s successful history. These pieces are an encore that pays homage to memorable 50’s and 60’s designs, yet they also push the ideas and forms into the future. Optimistic, fun, with colors that POP, Bravo! also celebrates life NOW with hot new colors and cool new forms.
Not only do the pieces look great, they work well too. Try pouring from the bird neck pitcher to see what we mean. Voluptuous and curved or svelte and stretched, from and function unite in this juicy, young line. Instead of simply being a decorative motif, the punches that produce the interesting contours of the vessels also create areas that the hand can easily grasp. These pieces really lend themselves to mixing or matching; never has orange, blue, and purple looked so good together. Bravo! Blenko loves Blenko again!
Available in: Ruby, Dreamcicle, Clover, & Electric Blue *Sunshine and Vineyard have been discontinued.

2006 Fire and Ice from Blenko Glass

Fire and Ice - 2006 price in 2006 range from : $150 - $220.

Sweetdoc, Thank you for the photo and question.

The glass vase you bought is Blenko. Its part of the 2006 Fire and Ice series.

This is a very lovely grouping, over the last thirty six month many of my WVU professors chose to purchase from this grouping.

WVU - First Lady Susan Hardesty has the larger vase. The colors represent WVU in an eloquent, understated way.
All the beauty and fire of this series can't be seen in a photo, however, I'm attaching photos of the entire series. Photos from Blenko 2006 Catalogue.

Congratulations on your excellent purchase.

Remember when you buy BLENKO GLASS, you are supporting an American Glass Company, and you are supporting local craftsmen. Buy Made In USA when possible.

hjh

No Money

Hilary,

I have less than $20 per month extra, and I want to start a Blenko collection. Suggestions?

Carolee

Carolee,

My first suggestion would be to look again at your budget.

Blenko glass can be found in estate sales, tag sales, flea markets etc.

Having been college student for 9 years, I know poverty. My game plan has been to save money for the purchase of a desired piece. Some collectors collect the BLENKO GLASS paper ware - post cards, catalogues, advertisements, these can be purchased for $20 or less.

Let me suggest you buy only what you love and want to live with, surrounding yourself with things you love will enhance your entire life.

Good Luck, and when you make that first purchase, let us know what you bought. Check out the Blenko Glass websites, and consider joining a glass club to learn more about Blenko and WV Glass.

HJH

September 26 - Broze Look - Princeton, W.Va.

The following notice from The BRONZE LOOK

Note to the Glass Community and

Blenko Glass Collectors mark your calendars for September 26th:
September 26 Blenko Signing Event: Blenko Craftsman Randy Rider will visit us to sign any Blenko Piece purchased at The Bronze Look, LLC. Princeton, West Virginia

We also will have the first in our series of The Four Seasons Blenko Perfume Bottle offered exclusively by The Bronze Look to collectors. No more than 99 bottles will be offered in the first series. The bottle is tangerine color to match our beautiful fall foilage. I have attached a photo of the perfume bottle. It is the first in a series of four each representing a season.

Randy Rider - Master Craftsman - Blenko Glass

Hills, Saw yesterdays post about the perfume bottle, my question is who is Randy Rider? New designer? From where? More info please.

Sol

Sol, May I suggest you check out the Blenko Websites for employee information:

http://www.blenkoproject.org/ and others offer this information.

Below is an employee info compliments of Blenko Glass.

Randy Rider - Master Craftsman
Years Worked: 28 years on October 17th, 2008.
Positions Held: Everything for Carry-in boy to Production Supervisor
Current Position: Production Supervisor/ Finisher
Randy is married and has 2 children, one of which is employed at Blenko. Randy was raised in Ona, WV and attended high school in Milton, WV.
Randy enjoys working on special projects and likes to push the limits by experimenting on new works of art. Randy would like to one day be mentioned along side the most well noted artisans that Blenko has had.

Blenko Inspired Art / Photos

Hilary, A while back you mentioned Rick Lee, Damon Crane, and Glen Brogan as artist . Saying they all did good photos and graphics. This week I spent time viewing the website listing for all three. Can you persuade Lee and Crane to allow you to do a few blogs about their work and publish available photos along with price? Also Brogan I didn't see any glasswork in the drawings on his site.

I am redoing my house, and want to have Blenko photos in the glass room which is filled with Blenko from 1059 - 2009. John Nickerson at one time lived in an apartment we own, our collection grew after this, as we felt a connection to the company.

Also on the Glen Brogan website, I discovered the ??? drawing??? is this representative of you?

Alex

http://www.albinoraven.com/images/cubees/hillarycubeeweb.jpg

Harry Goes to California

Blenko postcards are 'collectible' the postcards in this blog are the property of Larry Thompson and feature his father Harry Thompson. Check out EBAY and your local vintage shops for Blenko Glass paper products. hjh

Doctor Hillary,

I can only remember that Lassie Templeton and Lendel Templeton were two of the men that went with Harry to California. No one took photos that I knew of the post cards was all I saw of the trip. Lassie is the man holding the mold for Harry in the post card. We still do not know who the man is with the chigarette in his moth is .The 1956 and 1957 cattaloge photo, The man with Harry is Mac Mccomas. I have been told that these men worked with Harry for many years. In 1964 one of these men got ther own shop and Harry picked a newly hired Bill Knight to work on his shop and it wasent long before Bill could make the airtwist stem for the Williamsburg. Bill lold me that Harry could recognize a talented worker very quickly and would grab them for hie shop. He would also make sure they got there own shop when they were ready.

Thanks Larry T.

Limited Edition - Perfume Bottles _ BLenko

You'll want to be special order this one - Limited Edition

Perfume Bottle made by Randy Rider Sold only at the Bronze Look in Princeton, WVa.

You may phone and use your charge card to hold .
HJH
http://www.thebronzelook.com/

Bronze Look - Limited Edition Blenko Perfume Bottles

Hilary, Read a story about Blenko making limited edition perfume bottles? Do you know this story, and can you post photos and price of the bottles? Your job is to keep us informed, and now I'm having to inform you. Not good.

Mountain Rita

Mountain Rita - We had no knowledge of this project. With a few emails we were able to obtain some info. Hope this helps. Below is a note from Bronze Look describing the series.

HJH www.thebronzelook.com (the link I used).

Hello Hillary:
My gallery-The Bronze Look- is located in the Historic District of Princeton, West Virginia at 311 Mercer Street. We have been a Blenko Dealer for three years now having just relocated to our refurbished 100 year old building. We have worked with Fenton Art Glass in the past doing special limited edition pieces for our customers and thought we could do the same for our Blenko Glass enthusiasts.

Working with Katie Garrison of Blenko we came together on an idea of 4 different perfume bottle reflecting the colors of Blenko and the four seasons in West Virginia. Randy Rider, Master Finisher for Blenko will be here for the release and signing of the 99 piece edition. The first piece will be tangerine and the edition is limited to 99. The remaining 3 bottles will be no more than 99 but right now we are setting the limit at 69. When Katie and I looked over the various molds and patterns we found that a decanter type perfume bottle 60's vintage of smaller porportions would be a perfect beginning. I also wanted a perfume bottle to retail for less than $60 if possible. The price came in at $60. The second bottle will be cobalt blue, the 3rd Spring Green and the fourth Ruby. We have not decided on any specific pattern for the other three.

I have been to many of the glass plants that are no longer operating in West Virginia. I hated to see Pilgrim Glass and Seneca Glass close as those were on my favorite places to visit. We actually now work with Kelsey Murphy, Past Art Director of Pilgrim Glass, in creating new pieces for our gallery using her blanks or Blenko or Fenton pieces. It is important to me that we work to promote and preserve the glassworking heritage of West Virginia. I know the economy may be having an effect on what or how people spend their money.

Thanks for all you do for promoting the Blenko Glass.
Randolph

zodiac paperweights

Hillary
I have the entire collection except for cancer. Tell me how to find cancer? Will Blenko remake these?
Morris T.
Morris,
My thoughts are these have been remade, but I am sending a note to Katie Garrison VP at Blenko. Check back for an answer.
HJH

Collecting Blenko

Hilary
What can you tell me about the Blenko Collectors Society? Is it now a go or a no go?
Also who do we turn to?
For information and other news?
Elizabeth C.

Elizabeth,
I've ask Tammy Kosla to share her story - she is the founding member of the Blenko Collectors Society.
The Blenko Glass website has information about the Blenko Glass Collectors Society.
I have no new information, when I do - I'll immediately post the info.
After June of 2010 I promise to spend time growing collector clubs. Like Fenton and Festia and Fostoria we need more than one group (state or regional groups all belonging to a larger group - but meeting regularly) of Blenko Collectors - form your own group to learn about Blenko - then join a larger group as / when it becomes available.
Keep reading and keep buying NEW Blenko glass.
Visit the Blenko glass website frequently. Vist http://www.blenkocollectors.com/ (The Blenko Collectors 4) website to learn about Blenko.

From the Blenko Website:
Collecting Blenko- Old and New
Blenko Handcrafted glass has been a growing collectible since the 1960's. Some in the world of glass collecting say it is one of the next, 'Must have' collectibles.
In 2003, the Blenko Collector's Society was created by a group of avid collectors. The Blenko Collector's Society is a small but growing group. They have a convention every year here at the Blenko factory in, Milton, West Virginia. For the convention Blenko makes special pieces available at the Visitor's Center just for convention attendees.
In conjunction with the Blenko Collector's Society, Blenko produces a piece exclusively for members of the Society every year. So far, 3 pieces have been produced. All pieces have the membership number etched on the bottom of the piece.
In addition to the convention and yearly membership piece, the Society publishes a newsletter every quarter.
For more information on joining the Blenko Collector's Society, please click on the link below:
http://www.blenkocollectorssociety.com/
Membership Application
Blenko Collectors Society Mission Statement
Dedicated to promote the study, appreciation, preservation and identification of Blenko Glass.

Blenko Glass Company P.O. Box 67 Milton WV

www.blenkoproject.org

Learn about Blenko Glass, view collections of Blenko Glass, become a part of an advocate group, a group that wants to see Glass Made In West Virginia.
http://www.blenkoproject.org/
Comments you don't want to post, questions, photos etc please send to : theblenkoproject@aol.com

Walter Blenko - Blenko Glass

Glasslady,

Twice now I have read about Walter Blenko, and the need to add his signature to my collection. Can you tell me more about Walter Blenko and where he fits into Blenko?

Laurie V.

Laurie - The official Blenko website offers the bio below. The Blenko website :www.blenkoglass.com, the Blenko Collectors 4, Blenko Collectors Society and Blenko project all contain valuable information. All are updated regularly. Hope this answers your question.

HJH

Walter J. Blenko, Jr. (photo) has been active in alumni affairs at Carnegie-Mellon University for many years, has served two terms as President of the Andrew Carnegie Society, and was a member of the Executive Committee and Executive Board of the Alumni Association. He has received the Alumni Association’s Distinguished Service Award and is a member of the Visiting Committee for the Department of Mechanical Engineering. His civic activities include 12 years as a volunteer fireman and an honorary membership in the Wilkinsburg Emergency Medical Service. He has served as a member of and secretary to the Hampton Township Zoning Hearing Board, and as a member and president of the Hampton Township School Board. Currently, Mr. Blenko has been serving as President of Blenko Glass since September 2008.