Blenko Glass - Vintage American Glass

I'd like this in crystal without the crackle? Is this possible? Lou

Lou, It is possible - if you have the 'luck of the Irish' and spend a great deal of time in vintage glass stores. The crackle glass was part of the original design. This was made decades ago and the marks are the signature of Don Shepperd ( check out Blenko Collector Four, or Blenko Project for information on Blenko Designers). HJH

What's Happening At Blenko?

Daily - perhaps ten times a day I'm ask " What 's happening at Blenko?
What's new a Blenko?"
The factory is on winter break. The glass workers will be returning very soon.
Blenko is alive, well and doing great.
In this time of economic trauma - small businesses are struggling, this is a time when your local business needs your help. Shop LOCAL
not just Blenko, shop your local hardware store, Mom and Pop resturants, and you'll discover the prices are NOT better at the big box stores.
What I appreciate most about buying local, is I have a person with whom I can interact - I can ask questions about the plant I purchased, or the light switch and receive appropriate information. Local business people know the products they sell.
What's happening at Blenko? Visit the factory and write to tell us.
theblenkoproject@aol.com

Blenko Signature

A new Blenko collector needs our help to identify this signature.

HJH

Please leave a comment.

Valentine's Day - Blenko Collector Gift Cards

Diane Weber a Blenko Glass Collector living in California creates many paper cards.

My favorite are Blenko Glass inspired.

This is a sample of the Valentine's Day ( maybe used for any occasion) Cards.

Diane's card are often found in the Blenko Glass Visitor Center gift shop price $12-15. and also on Etsy.

Museum of American Glass

Located in Weston, West Virginia.

If you collect American Glass you'll want to visit

The Museum of American Glass in Weston, WVa.

Free Dental Screenings and Cleanings For Children

Check your local newspaper for dates and times in

your area.

If you are a teacher, a minister, a parent make certain all the children you know have the opportunity to

participate.

HJH

The Huntington Museum of Art is hosting free tours from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Today!

The Huntington Museum of Art is hosting free tours from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Today, Tuesday January 24th..

The event is open to the public, and admission is free. The focus of the evening is the exhibit titled "Macy's Presents Haiti to Huntington: A Journey of Color," which includes Haitian Art and Blenko Glass.

This free tour will be the first of the Tuesday Tours taking place at the Huntington Museum of Art. Each fourth Tuesday of each month will feature a free tour. Each tour will have a unique theme and exhibit.

For more information see The Parthenon article.

Chinese New Year - Year of The Dragon

Year of change - year of good luck -

2012 will be a great year for Blenko Glass and for Blenko Collectors.

Check the www.blenkoglass.com website for upcoming info on the warehouse sale.

If you haven't been to a Blenko Glass warehouse sale - you'll want to come, bring your Xmas list, and your checkbook.

Prices are always the lowest of the year.

Note: Blenko now has many pink and red items in the VC Gift Shop, its not too early to start shopping for

Valentine's Day!

Blenko. Blenko.

Jim,
Your photo is Blenko. It is neither rare nor unique nor difficult to find.
Before you made another purchase check the Blenko Collector Four, purchase Blenko catalogs, Pina Books etc., being prepared and having knowledge is key to purchasing collectible glass.
I'll look for the CAT photos you requested - check back they will be added to this post soon.
HJH

Blenko Glass - Vintage Blenko

Susie,

What you have is a Blenko Glass - Fire and Ice bowl. Blenko has made this for almost a decade. It is not rare

or unusual ( sorry).

This is one of my favorite Blenko special color items - four items were made in this color combo.

You didn't mention where you live - if in West Virginia and you are a Mountaineer Fan - consider using this one for pre and post game parties.

Many collectors seek to find all items made in a particular color combo.

If I can be of further assistance let me know.

HJH

Blenko Vintage Decanters

Tony,
With Blenko its often difficult to determine age.
Your photo decanter ( shown here in crystal) is currently being offered at www.blenkoglass.com .
Perhaps view the Blenko Museum or Blenko Collector Four
web pages to determine if their is a difference in the
current decanter and the one you own.
Happy Shopping. Thank you for collecting Blenko, and for reading the Blenko Blog.
HJH

www.blenkoglass.com Blenko Glass

Blenko Medallions.

Available at the Blenko Glass Visitors Center, Milton, WVa. and on line www.blenkoglass.com.

Learn more about Blenko and WV Glass visit www.blenkoproject.org .

hjh

West Virginia Glass Towns now in stock!

Brand New!!!
West Virginia Glass Towns West Virginia Glass Towns ($29.95) by Dean Six features over 450 companies and locations that have produced hot glass since the first glass was produced in Wellsburg in the second decade of the 19th century.

West Virginia Glass Towns provides a town by town list of the glass producing communities giving dates, product lines and then offers a plethora of photos of glass factories, glass workers, maps, advertisements and much more.

The book is a richly textured history using period images to tell the story of what has been a significant industry in the state, an industry that employed tens of thousands of men and women over the nearly two centuries of activity.

The books spans communities from Alum Bridge to Williamstown with significant chapters on know glass communities like Clarksburg, Fairmont, Huntington, Morgantown, Wellsburg, Weston and Wheeling. Also addressed are the numerous factories and glass producers in lesser recognized glass towns such as Cameron, Dunbar, Grafton, Mannington, Parkersburg, Pennsboro and Star City to name but a few.

Go to http://www.wvbookco.com/ for these and over 450 other West Virginia books.

Blenko Tangerine

Photo of Ms Merritt's Blenko Glasses, she reports they are 60 or more years of age.

These may not be the color you're looking for. They are probably 60 or more years old and were left me bya friend in her will

Blenko Glass

Kara,
Thank you for the note. We do notice a surge of interest in all things Blenko. Perhaps the economy is improving!
Pictured here is cobweb, it is not the same as your vase with swirls.
Hope this helps. You might also check
Blenko Museum and archives and Blenko Collector Four for photos.
Collecting Blenko is an activity you can enjoy alone, or with friends and family. Good hunting!
HJH

Glass History Program Jan 12th

The West Virginia State Museum has scheduled a January program on the rich history of glass production in the Virginias.

The program will reflect on the antebellum years when hundreds of glass factories operated in West Virginia, as well as western Virginia. Glass producers were attracted to the states because of their abundant supply of silica, limestone and natural gas.The museum's collection of glass objects includes a number of pieces from a wide range of factories and craftsmen. Some of the familiar glass-producing names include Fenton Art Glass and Blenko Glass Co.

The Jan. 12 program will be led by the museum's chief curator, James R. Mitchell.

The museum is located in Charleston.

Blenko Glass www.blenkoproject.org - Water bottle

Hillary

I collect the Blenko water bottles, each year I buy the new colors and the odd ones when I can find an odd one.

I'm now into my 7th year and have almost 50 waterbottles.

Will they increase in value- and are there bottles more valuable than others?

I've never paid more than $40 thus far for an individual bottle.

Todd

Todd,

The waterbottle is one of my favorite items - Blenko Glass blows into the mold to create the water bottle - this allows for altering the spout - adding texture etc. - the water bottle has been altered many times. My favorite is the classic bottle with handle. This was made for a short time - due to breakage - the handle is fragile.

In the 20 years we've collected water bottles have increased by 250% in price. The water bottle with handle sells for upward of $125.

The value in all Blenko Glass limited to the enjoyment you receive when using your glass. While the price or value may increase - enjoy your glass - use your water bottles to hold liquid, or as a flower vase.

Good Luck with your collection. If you have suggestions for new colors etc., don't hesitate to leave your comments when you visit Blenko Glass Visitor Center in Milton, WVa. Blenko is a small factory and they often respond to customer request.

hjh

Photo: Ruby water bottle with Handle from

collection of Tim and Karin Alonzo of Texas.

Colors needed!

Blenko Project is seeking examples of the following colors of Blenko Glass.If you have a glass item in one or more of these colors please be so kind as to send photo to theblenkoproject@aol.com .

The modern colors : Slate, Apricot, Avacado, Alpine, Dusty Rose, Jungle, Ebony, Ginger, Lavender, Midnight Blue, Opaline yellow, Topaz,Violet, Winter Evergreen, Lemon Swirl Ice Blue, Nile, Surf Green, Aqua, Juniper

We are also looking for pictures of the Specialty lines Raindrop, Regal, and Rialto

Thank you

Hillary H

Blenko Molds

Blenko Molds On a personal note - I'd love to have a dozen Blenko molds - for display in my Kitchen. Thus far no Blenko mold has appeared in my life. Today a photo of Blenko Molds was in my mail - I'm sharing the photoeach Blenko mold is hand carved usually cherry wood by a Blenko employee. The life span of a mold varies due to use and other conditions.

Hillary I was told these were Blenko molds, I’m attaching the pics that I just took. The larger one is in the best shape although someone painted a few pictures on them (gees) but I think it would clean up. The smaller one is in worse shape with no handles and more rickety. The large one is marked 7115S and the small one looks like it is marked 3750L.

Daniel Chapman - Artist - Wood Carver

Daniel Chapman - Blenko Glass

Mold Maker.

Blenko Glass uses almost exclusively hand made wooden molds.

Photo: Blenko Glass

Orange Bowl - Its a Great Day to be a Mountaineer!

I can't say with any statistical analysis the BLENKO GLASS www.blenkoglass.com LOGO items (Marshall and WVU )

correlate to the win.

However, Blenko Glass continues to sell Logo items for your favorite sports teams.

If you didn't add Blenko Glass to your pre game and post game party this year. Buy NOW!

WVU's first ORANGE BOWL win. Highest scoring team in Orange Bowl history.

The entire State of West Virginia is proud of this team and Coaches.

hjh

ORANGE BOWL - WVU

Bella Boca Collection of Blenko Glass.

Marshall University had an excellent Bowl showing - tonight its West Virginia University's game with Clemson.

While we have seen no Blenko logo products at the pre game parties. The atmosphere is charged and filled with

positive energy.

Game On!

Blenko Glass Blenko Glass Company www.blenkoproject.org

Learn more about the history of Blenko Glass, view beautiful collections of Blenko Glass.

Assist us with enhancing the website by sending photos of your collection to

theblenkoproject@aol.com.

http://www.blenkoproject.org/

Summer intensive classes at Pittsburgh Glass Center (PGC) are open for registration now.

Check out the intensive one-week glass classes with world–renowned instructor/artists.
Classes begin on May 21 and run through August 17, 2012.
The cost for summer classes at PGC is $650 for one-week classes if paid before Feb. 1.
To register for classes, visit www.pittsburghglasscenter.org or call 412-365-2145.

For more information on classes, see http://www.pittsburghglasscenter.org/classes/summer-intensives-classes/classes-Detail.aspx

Pittsburgh Glass CenterPittsburgh Glass Center is a nonprofit, public access glass school,gallery and state-of-the-art studio dedicated to teaching, creatingand promoting glass art. A growing arts organization in the regionthat continues to bring new life to Pittsburgh's glass art legacy,Learn more about the Pittsburgh Glass Center by visiting our Web siteat www.pittsburghglasscenter.org or by calling 412-365-2145.Summer intensive classes at Pittsburgh Glass Center (PGC) are open for registration now.

2012 Happy New Years!

Pictured here is the Blenko Glass top hat in crystal. I've been seeking an ebony Blenko Top Hat for over a decade. If you have an extra ebony top hat, let me know.

The Blenko Glass Top Hat is often used for flowers, for cooling wine, or as a decorative object of art. At my home it is used as an ice bucket to keep Jones Soda cool during social events. If you don't own a Blenko Glass Top Hat, you'll want to add this item to your 'must have ' list.

My Parents own this in a rich green - it comes out in March each year - they use the green top hat as a center piece to hold fruit or flowers.

BLENKO GLASS http://www.blenkoglass.com/ where they have something for every one your shopping list. Check out http://www.blenkoproject.org/ website for examples of glass collections.

Happy New Year from Heart of Glass!