Annual Blenko Warehouse Sale

Effective immediately Blenko announces that our 2016 Warehouse Sale will open on Saturday March 19, 2016 as scheduled and remain open for the following eight (8) consecutive days only. Past years we were not open on Sunday but this year we will be. Additionally the second week of the sale will be cut short and the event will conclude on Saturday evening March 26th. Please take note and adjust your plans accordingly! Sunday March 27th is Easter and theBlenko warehouse sale will not be open.

We hope this schedule change allows you to plan a great trip to Milton and Blenko Glass.”

Mon-Fri 9am-3pm, Saturday 9am-4pm, Sunday 10am-3pm
*File picture not indicative of current warehouse selection

http://bestevents.us/milton-blenko-annual-warehouse-sale/1049529

Blenko Glass for Adoption

More Blenko Needing a new home.  Reader Carolee has all the glasss in this catalog photo - she collects by pages in the catalogs.  This is a new type of collection to me.  She and her significant other choose a page in the catalog and search for the pictured Blenko.    We also have needing a home the

WV Birthday Basket - an early birthday piece, the owner estimates it worth at 875.  If this is an item you need.   The early birthday vases are difficult to find.   This one often has cracks at point where handle is connected to base.  Ann U. tells us this one has no such cracks. 

Please leave messages.  We will not publish your message but will respond to the question or send your message to the owner of the glass.

You may also write or send photos to:  theblenkoproject@aol.com.

HJH

Happy Valentine's Day

If You are still searching for that something unique, special, and not too outrageously expensive - consider shopping Blenko Glass.  The online shop is a great start - but if you live within driving distance of the Milton Glass Factory.  I'm going to suggest you make  a visit.  Blenko has something for everyone and for every occasion. 
Pictured below are just a sample of the offerings.  Note:  The Blenko Gift shop merchandise changes daily.  No guarantee you'll find these items.  But we do guarantee you'll find something you love.
Blenko Glass  handcrafted in West Virginia.

A Little Bling -

The Blenko Glass Fish -  Perfect for All

Glass squirrel for the Hunter in Your Life

Handcrafted Card - Perfect for Valentine's Day - from Etsy

Red Glass Hearts - WV Glass Makers 

 

Marvin Lipofsky

Photo of Marvin Lipofsky taken in the 70s. 

 Marvin Lipofsky was one of a dozen GlassDesigners who came to Rural USA to work in Glass Factories.  Joel Myers ( Blenko Designer) was key to arranging this melting of Glass Factory Workers and Glass Designers.

Copyright © 2016 Marvin Lipofsky Studios

Marvin Lipofsky Studios

1016 Pardee Street

Berkeley, CA 94710

WILLIAM HENRY BLENKO JR ORBITUARY

WILLIAM HENRY BLENKO JR., 94, of Milton, W.Va., passed away on Friday, February 5, 2016, at his residence. Born in 1921, he was a son of the late William Henry Blenko Sr. and Marion Hunt from the famous Hunt Stained Glass Studios. William attended Milton High School and was named valedictorian in 1938. He played on the Milton High School basketball team as forward and center at 5'11". He attended the prestigious Carnegie Tech in Pittsburgh, Pa., where he was asked to join Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. While there, he played intramural sports and played a big role in winning the intramural championship in basketball. When World War II began, he patriotically volunteered for the Army Air Corps and trained at Yale. He was commissioned as a First Lieutenant and was stationed to the East Anglia Air bases. William served at Honnington Air Field, England, and at Thetford, England. It was during this time in the Air Corps that he met Jeanne Margaret Deakin, of Oadby, England, who was in the Royal Air Force. They were married in Pittsburgh in 1946. William became the third generation to work at Blenko Glass Company in Milton, W.Va. He was a lifelong member of the VFW, the Lions Club, The Ceramic Society and was an avid Marshall sports fan. He became president of the Blenko Glass Company in 1969 with the death of his father. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by the love of his life, his wife Jeanne Deakin Blenko, his son William Blenko III, close friends Robert Stein of Chicago, Hinton Richmond, Hollis Griffith and Nestor Logan. He is survived by his son Richard and Marty Blenko and his sister-in-law Cathleen Cooper of Leicester, England. A private ceremony was held on February 8, 2016. Memorial contributions may be made in his honor to the Hospice of Huntington. Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.heckfuneralhome.com. - See more at: 

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/herald-dispatch/obituary.aspx?n=william-henry-blenko&pid=177651285&fhid=23718#sthash.8xSH4G9F.dpuf

http://www.herald-dispatch.com/news/former-president-of-blenko-glass-dies-at-age/article_a9dcdc7e-cf35-11e5-8eed-cf7b7006007b.html

Valentine's Day Weekend!

Nothing speaks to the Heart like ' Ruby Red Blenko!'  or crystal Blenko vase filled with fresh flowers, a bowl in your significant others favorite color filled with jelly beans or his favorite chocolate.

Blenko Glass is handcrafted in West Virginia.  www.blenkoglass.com

West Virginia Birthday Vases Seeking New Home

Hillery,
   My maw maw passed this past year.  I inherited and do not want her West Virginia and Ohio glass.   Its a bunch of odd n ends except for the State Birthday Vases.
    She has the first four and the last eight.
I have been told the first ones are worth about 1,000 each and the later ones about $500.
Is this accurate?   Will you help us find someone who needs these?
Alicia Bell

Alicia
Blenko and most other vintage glass is worth whatever another is willing to pay.  I will post your note.  If you will send photos - I'll add these.
Most collectors will want to see the bottom and a good quality photo of the entire piece.
Thank you for reading.
If you want to learn more about Blenko Glass -- the history and also learn about collecting, may I suggest The Blenko Project,  another good site is Blenko Glass Collectors - Blenko Four, and of course the Blenko Glass Company website  and facebook pages devoted to Blenko.
HJH

She has 1980 - 84

 

She has 2012 - 2015

Glass Needing New Homes _ Feb 2016

Our main focus for the month of Feb., other than promoting GLASS as an alternative to Valentine's Day Flowers..... will be 'Glass Needing New Homes'.

Should you have a good item that is a duplicate for you, or that you no longer love.  We may be able to help.   Please send photo, description and a contact info and we'll post the photo.  Our readers, many of whom just began ( 1-5 years) collecting and are in need of older and unique colors of Blenko.  
Please send to TheBlenkoProject@aol.com 
Sample of Ideal Valentine's Day Gift -  Card and Blenko!

V-Day Card

Blenko Glass - Martini Pitcher 

Loss of great glass artist, Marvin Lipofsky

Marvin Lipofsky, Who Raised Blown Glass To High Art, Dead At 77

Marvin Lipofsky, a founder of the studio-glass movement, which took blown glass from the realm of interior decoration and functionality and showed its potential as a fine-arts medium, died on Jan. 15 in Oakland, Calif. He was 77.

For years we heard stories fro m Shorty Finley, and Jessie Carpenter about the ‘design boys’  who came with Joel Myers to do factory work.   They spoke of how kind and supportive the designers  were to the factory men.   They all went fishing and bowling and bonded in Milton.

Shorty Finley and Marvin Lipofsky were reunited via phone after I met Marvin and Henry Halem http://www.henryhalem.com/ in Pittsburgh ( 2009).  

Marvin Lipofsky and Henry Halem spoke of their time in West Virginia and the workers with great delight – as if it were yesterday.

Marvin Lipofsky was a wonderful presenter, a beyond wonderful glass designer, and a good friend to everyone who knew him.

Over the years, he has provided this blog with photos from Blenko during his tenture and documents about Joel Myers.  Marvin Lipofsky loved  the process of making glass art and immediately bonded and became teacher, mentor, friend to others sharing his interest.

We feel blessed to have known him.

hjh

 

 

Give Kids A Smile - Feb 5, 2016 Charleston WV

Blenko Warehouse Sale

Blenko Glass each year in March holds a 4-5 day warehouse sale.

If you haven't been....may I suggest you mark this event in your calendar and attempt to attend.

Each year they sell Artist Proofs,  odd ball glass,  2nds and many items that are just discontinued.

While I have not been in several years,  each year many readers write to speak of the beautiful and VERY NICELY PRICED items they purchased.

My parents used to go yearly and buy gifts for their entire office staffs.   During this event, one can obtain Blenko Glass water bottles for as low as $16.... consider buying in bulk for your gift closet.

Each year I receive a letter from the Conner family -- they bring their van and fill it with items to
resell on EBay and Etsy.  
For the exact dates and times please phone 304 743 9081 - check www.blenkoglass.com Blenko Glass website, or the Blenko Collectors on face book. 

Photo from Conner Family - Warehouse Sale 2015 

Located in Milton, WV Blenko Glass is an American institution and has been in business since 1893.

For over 100 years Blenko has maintained and will carry on the tradition of hand making glassware in America. We offer a wide range of products which include functional glassware, art glass, mouth blown sheet glass, dalle de verre and other quality products.

We welcome you to become a part of the Blenko Family.*

Note:  We continue with policy of NOT publishing comments.  We will however, forward your comments to the appropriate persons.  We appreciate your comments - good - bad and indifferent.
Our goal is to raise awareness of the wonderful handcrafted glass available in West Virginia.
We will attempt to assist you with documenting your glass,  finding new homes for your glass.
Thank you for reading and for your continued interest in Blenko Glass.  

* Blenko Glass website.