Morgantown Lead Crystal

www.oldmorgantown.org A Collectors Guild and Museum are located in Morgantown West Virginia. This item was a gift from my grandparents and is a part of my yearly Holiday Decoration - I'd forgotten that it was Morgantown Glass, last evening we were taking out decorations. I'll bet you all have nice older WV - or American Glass items, hiding in your home. Today I plan to add the history of Morgantown Glass to this box, so - it I'm not around, people will be reminded of the history! hjh

The Morgantown Glass Works was established in 1899, in Morgantown, West Virgina. After reorganization in 1903, the company assumed the "Economy Tumbler Company" moniker. It operated under this name until late 1923, when the name was changed to Economy Glass Company to better reflect the diversty of products being produced. In July, 1929 the company name was changed to the Morgantown Glass Works, Inc. As the early name suggests the primary production of the company in the early years was blown tumblers. As the company matured and demand for general household glassware increased, Economy Tumbler began to diversify. In 1920, Joseph Haden came to Morgantown from the Fry Glass Company. His extensive knowledge of chemicals and color soon established Economy as "The Color House of America." New lines and colors were developed through the 1920's and 1930's as the company prospered. Later the company reorganized again and continued operating as the Morgantown Glassware Guild. In 1965, Fostoria bought the factory, but production was maintained under the Morgantown Guild name. The plant was closed in 1971. In 1972 the factory was sold to The Bailey Glass Company for use in the manufacture of lamp globes.
The Information for this brief history came from the book "Colored Glassware of the Depression Era 2" by Hazel Marie Weatherman.
and from "A Handbook of Old Morgantown Glass" by Jerry Gallagher.

WE WANT YOUR PHOTOS!!

Seeking PHOTOS of BLENKO LAMPS, Blenko FISH, Blenko animals, Blenko
after hours work, Unusual non catalogue BLENKO!
Please HELP!
send your photos to: theblenkoproject@aol.com please label with as much info as you can provide, also do not send any photo you don't wish to have published on the blog - unless you - indicate DO NOT PUBLISH - thanks. Hillary.
We'll start to publish these photos in December.

Patriotic Discounts at Vintage Modern Glasshouse

I apologize for getting this out so last minute (I have spent the weekend without internet access and am a bit behind) but for ONE MORE DAY Vintage Moder Glasshouse, vmglasshouse.com, is having a sale to commemorate the recent Presidential Election.

20% discount to anyone who emails info@vmglasshouse.com to say they voted (valid to 11/9)

VM Glasshouse has many hard to find vintage Blenko pieces, and is always a treat to browse.
The 20% off offer is only good until the end of tomorrow (Sunday, the 9th) - so time is of the essence if you want to take advantage!

The Angels of Blenko - Blenko Glass www.blenkoglass.com

Les Womack a retired BLENKO GLASS foreman, returns to BLENKO GLASS http://www.blenkoglass.com/ each year to make ANGELS and SNOWMEN to be sold during the Holiday Season.
Wednesday, Les started making the Holiday Angels, his daughter Christy photographed the process from start to finish. We are publishing the photos. ' A Master Craftsman at Work'

Aren't we fortunate to have this process documented?

My suggestion is print the photos and give them to the recipient of the ANGEL, don't forget to buy one for yourself.

There are many sources of ANGELS in shops and on the Internet but ONLY BLENKO GLASS has Les Womack ANGELS, the very 'best' angels are found at BLENKO!

The supply is always limited.
When they are available in the Gift Shop - I'll POST A NOTE, please remember to purchase quickly. These are extremely time consuming, very detailed, beautiful pieces of West Virginia Glass.

Only the finest craftsman can make these ANGELS.

An angel is a spiritual supernatural being found in many religions. Although the nature of angels and the tasks given to them vary from tradition to tradition, in Christianity, Judaism and Islam, they often act as messengers from God.
An Angel is rarely used to represent anything other than the positive.
An Angel can be the perfect gift - or Holiday Decoration - Angels are appropriate for any time, season, place.
WEBMASTER STEVE provided us with the following info about ANGELS. our thanks to Steve and internet sources!
Angels: Other roles in religious traditions include acting as warrior or guard; the concept of a "guardian angel" is popular in modern Western culture.
Angels are usually viewed as emanations of a supreme divine being, sent to do the tasks of that being. Traditions vary as to whether angels have free will or are merely extensions of the supreme being's will. While the appearance of angels also varies, many views of angels give them a human shape.
Islam is clear on the nature of angels in that they are messengers of God (Allah in Arabic). They have no free will, and can only do that which God orders them to do. Angels mentioned in the Quran include Gabriel, Michael, Israfil, Haroot, Maroot and the Angel of Death, Azrael.
Angels can take on different forms. Prophet Muhammad, the last Prophet of Islam, speaking of the magnitude of Angel Gabriel has said that his wings spanned from the Eastern to the Western horizon. At the same time, it is well known in Islamic tradition that angels used to take on human form.
Bahá'í
Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá'í Faith, referred to angels as people who through the love of God have consumed all human limitations and have been endowned with spiritual attributes.
`Abdu'l-Bahá, Bahá'u'lláh's son, defined angels as "those holy souls who have severed attachment to the earthly world, who are free from the fetters of self and passion and who have attached their hearts to the divine realm and the merciful kingdom".
Furthermore, he said that people can be angels in this world.

*Complaints / Comments that are negative? email me theblenkoproject@aol.com Other comments or questions are welcome!

Blast From The Past! Paper Weights, Mushrooms, Holiday Ornaments.

Blenko Glass Co. is returning to the past - this is a good thing - in the Visitors Shop currently there are paper weights made by BLENKO employees, also you'll find Mushrooms (another paperweight) these items have not been available at the Visitors Shop for a decade.
My suggestion is 1) if you live close enough - make the Visitors Center a weekly destination, 2) if you live out of state or more than an hour away, PHONE 304 743 0981 Diana or Mindy will be pleased to select and mail your items.
The ANNUAL HOLIDAY SALE is fast approaching, this year the SALE is going to be THE BEST! A wide array of BLENKO MADE ornaments, I have photos of a couple very light weight bulbs blown by Randy Rider, its my understanding for the HOLIDAY SALE they will have a large collection of BLENKO MADE ornaments. Blenko has sold ornaments for a long time - however - BLENKO MADE ORNAMENTS have been difficult to find. This year the selection of BLENKO MADE is large, the other ornaments are nice - but BLENKO MADE is exceptional.
In addition to the regular ornaments, Blenko is also doing the 3 ornament set, and having artist Lemly do hand painted ornaments. Both of these will make ideal Wedding or Birthday Gift, House Guest Gift, there are so many uses for these limited number signed ornaments .
Make this Holiday one in which you buy only quality made items, please
BUY MADE IN THE USA, BUY MADE IN WEST VIRGINIA and when its available BUY MADE IN MILTON, WV. hjh
Note: Blenko has a small number of the Festival Of Glass vase, if you haven't purchased this item, phone Diana or Mindy for update on selection.

Improve Your Photos of Glass

Blenko Glass Collectors and all collectors and sellers of GLASS love to photograph the Glass. Recently readers, phani, westvirginia janis and bridgett have had questions about taking good pictures of Glass. To find the best answer we ask West Virginia photographer Ted Elden. Today's post is his response.

Photographing Glass or shiny objects, or surfaces.

All surfaces are reflective. Some more, some less.

If you shoot a photo of any object before a flat wall, the wall is illuminated
You get a flash back / bright spot in the center of the photo.

Say I photo people or an object before a wall. If the wall is mat or dark in color, I get some flash back from the wall, particularly in the center of my photo, but not to bright. If the wall is a mirror (or glass) I get a very bright flash back or actually a mirror images of the flash itself in the photo.

So all surfaces are reflective, some more or less.

Light moves like a pool ball or billiard ball. When it goes straight in, it bounces straight back.
When it goes in at an angle, it bounces back at the reflected angle.

When you shine a light or flash at an angle, then the reflected light bounces off in the other direction.

So to shoot glass objects, or any thing shiny, bring light in at an angle.

Light or a flash can come directly from the camera, or from a different source;
day light, window light, lamp or separate lighting.

If your only light is on the flash twist your reflective object so the primary surfaces are not perpendicular to the camera lens to avoid most flash back.

If you are photographing against any wall, dark is best, reflects little light.
Light wall reflects more back. Distant back grounds reflect less then near back grounds.
Plain dark back ground will make the primary thing in the photos to be brighter and more visually dominant.

Shoot at an angle to the wall or the primary shiny surfaces.
Most of the light will bounce off in another direction, little flash back.

Better not to use a flash on shiny walls, or glass reflective objects.

Use an external light, flash, lamp, daylight so light come to the object at an angle, not perpendicular to the camera lens.

If the light comes in from the side, it will bounce off to the other side.

Then you can clearly see the edges, surfaces, subject of your photo, like a glass object or other reflective item, .

Photos are but renderings of light. Glass objects or walls reflect light depending on the angle of incident, the angle the light hits them, it bounces off in complimentary angle (like a pool ball shot reflected off the edge of pool table.).

I have an on board (attached) flash, but I can rotate the flash angle, so I can bounce the light off the ceiling or a side wall. Then I don’t get flash back seen in the lens and in the photos.

If you bounce light or a flash, be careful of the surface color you bounce from.
If you bounce from a pink wall, it will color the image with the pink color.

White or beige may be best as a flash bounce surface so as not to color the object of your photo.

Trial and error is the way to learn.
Learn in advance before you have a particular problem. You do not usually learn everything in one trail.

Digital photos give instant results, so you can see what you are doing. (easier to learn) If you work in film, you should write down in advance what different ways you will light, so when you get the photos back, you can see what the different methods rendered in your final images.

Good luck.

Ted Elden, photographer 304 344 2335 ted@abodia.com www.abodia.com
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
from Ted Elden - PhotographerTedElden@SuddenLink.net, tel 304 344 2335

1st Editon 2008 Christmas Ornament

BLENKO GLASS Company in Milton announced they are issuing a limited number (#50) signed, numbered, hand painted Christmas Ornament.

This is the 1st in what is sure to become a series.

The cost is $50.

May I suggest you pre order /pre-pay today! ** ( Apparently this isn't available for pre-order/pre payment. You will have to wait until 11/28? and based on comment from Ironchef go in person to the VC to purchase): http://www.blenkoglass.com/ .

The ornament is hand painted by Ms. Lemley. Check back for additional information on the artist.

lst edition on Christmas Ornaments are often used as gift to honor a child's birth, as a wedding gift (any 2008 wedding), an anniversary gift, or gift to grandchild, god child. Start a collection for yourself, or someone you love.

** My ERROR this is NOT available for PREPAYMENT / PREORDER! Check Visitor Center in Person on 11/28.

Kindness

Seek not good from without: seek it within yourselves, or you will never find it." -- Epictetus (2nd century)

My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness." -- The Dalai Lama

In honor of West Virginia's Birthday 2008, Blenko Glass & Bayliss Design Team made the (see photo) most beautiful "Birthday Vase'. * A Blog Reader made ear rings for me to match the vase, I wear them often, even though they are a bit longer than WVU Dental Dress Code allows. Kindness is a unique process, it allows the recipient to feel good, and perhaps cared for and allows the giver to also receive joy. Please, just for today - incorporate kindness - in your daily living. Some say it can easily become addictive.

Blenko Glass is gearing up for the Holiday Season, which means the Visitor Center has many unadvertised items, look in the boxes under the tables, and in the back at the tables marked CLEARANCE. Treasures can be found everywhere at BLENKO.

Note: This year BLENKO will offer a limited (50) number Ornament with the State Bird - Cardinal hand painted. This would make the most perfect gift for a newly married couple. For a grandchild, its the first in what will surely become a very successful collection. Signed, dated, numbered and available SOON at BLENKO. I'll post a photo and more information this week.

* I understand there are a number of people searching for this Birthday Vase so if you have an extra one, comment and name your price.

Identify This Glass!

Heart of Glass friend WVJanis needs your help!

Does anyone know if this 17" piece is BLENKO? Color and pontil on bottom make me think so; however, would like to know for sure. (Christy)?WV Janis

Please either respond with comment or email theblenkoproject@aol.com

OK - Now Its Time To Start Holiday Shopping!

When do you put up the tree? When I was a child, my parents didn't put up the tree until after my Moms' December birthday. Now, we put the tree up while I'm home for Thanksgiving, we do all the decorating during Turkey Week.

Shopping - BLACK FRIDAY - comes after Thanksgiving. My parents shop for Winter Holidays from September until

Dec 24th. One nice thing about shopping early - is the SELECTION of Items is prime. At BLENKO GLASS http://www.blenkoglass.com/ the website has a limited selection of wonderful items all perfect for Holiday Gift giving. The Visitors Center in Milton, WV has MORE, MUCH MORE. Driving to Milton - is similar - to the PA Shopping trips so many of my neighbors partake of. At Blenko GLASS the savy shopper can find gifts for everyone, under one roof. Classic, whimsical, utilitarian BLENKO has glass and designs appropriate for every family member. BLENKO will be having a HOLIDAY SALE and you'll read about the sale here and on their website. BUT why WAIT, go now to the Visitors Center, or order on line and ask BLENKO to ship the item to the receipient. The extra cost is small, the service large.

In Photo above - Order Now - As the quanity may be limited.

First Annual Set of 3 Holiday Medallion Ornaments
These sparkling glass ornaments will look beautiful hanging on your tree, or you can also hang them in a window with a suction cup (not included). Each ornament will be in a velveteen bag and beautifully packaged together in a special Blenko storage box.
Sizes ranges from approximately 2 1/2" to 3" dia. $36.00 per set plus shipping & handling
Orders are now being taken and will begin shipping no later than 11/27/08.
2008 Blenko Holiday Medallion Set.Price: $36.00

Keith Lahti - WV Potter

Examples of items available from Keith Lahti.

Keith Lahti - Potter's relationship with my family goes way back. When I was in 2nd grade I did a camp called ' The Dragon Camp' basically a theater and drama camp for children. My Mom knew Keith and approached him to make a 'dragon' for me as a keepsake for the summer events. Keith handcrafted a dragon that was a lamp - the fire comes out of the dragons' mouth (I'll try to take photo and add later to blog) . Keith is very talented, he is a full time craftsperson living in rural West Virginia. For about 5 years now he has been teaching his craft to others.

Each year Keith Lahti has an OPEN HOUSE for established customers, he sells everything left over from that season at a reduced price so people can buy MADE IN WEST VIRGINIA crafts for HOLIDAY GIFT GIVING.

This year Keith gave me permission to invite all of you to his OPEN HOUSE! If you can't go phone, he might be able to do phone orders.

Below is a copy of my invitation - YOU ARE ALL INVITED!

It is that time of year again!
*******************************
You are invited to the annual
Holiday Showing of Pottery
created by Keith Lahti.
Saturday and Sunday
November 15th and 16th
noon to 5:00pm
Everyone welcome - Bring friends and family!
Directions:
I-79 to Big Otter, exit 40(Rt. 16).
North on Rt. 16 to Nebo-Walker Road(about 3 miles).
Go 8/10ths of a mile and bear left up a hill(sign says Nebo Babtist Church).
Go to the top of that hill and down the other side.
Driveway is on left at bottom of that hill.
Phone: (304)286-2635

Email: lahticlay@yahoo.com

Check out KEITH's new website!
http://www.handmadecremationurns.com/

Make Mine PINK! - Pink Ice Returns to BLENKO Glass

Limited appearance - PINK ICE - Returns for the Holiday to Blenko Glass. This glass we hope will be ready in LATE NOVEMBER FOR THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY! You can order the sweetpea by phone (304 743 9081)

For all those ' MAKE MINE PINK' people Blenko Glass Company http://www.blenkoglass.com/ will be doing a very limited run of PINK ICE*

Blenko expects to have PINK ICE ready the last week in November - but we'll post a notice as soon as PINK ICE is available. I incorrectly reported pre orders were available. This is not the case. You will need to wait.

Last year due to school conflicts - - I wasn't able

to purchase PINK ICE (it sold out very quickly) for my 'make mine pink' friend Laura, or for

family friend Clara who is a CANCER SURVIVOR. The Color PINK long

thought of a being a feminine, soft , sweet color has come to represent

STRENGTH as it is used for the Pink Ribbon to promote Cancer Awareness.

I'm a JEWEL TONE woman, I don't usually like pastels, however, PINK ICE is a color that will have even the non pink crowd asking for more! Visit BLenko Visitors Center and see the PINK ICE.

Pink is the colour we most often connect with romance. Used for love, friendship, harmony, compassion, relaxation and companionship. Pink is symbolic of gentle emotions and of emotional unions. Western society often links pink with very young female children and has recently been used in the pick ribbon breast cancer campaign. Use it in Magic spells of protection and unconditional love. (web master Steve)

BUY SOMETHING PINK ( BLENKO OF COURSE) and see how it makes you feel!

Webmaster Steve contributed the info below from web search about color PINK.

Symbolism of Pink
Buy something pink and find out just how you feel.
Here are more opinions from other contributors:
love
friends
"fluffyness"
warm comfy
sensuality
femininity
cotton candy
soft
caressing
Breast Cancer

* Pink Ice is a 2007 BLENKO GLASS COLOR.

**** See any mistakes or mis information, please immediately help me to make corrections - theblenkoproject@aol.com or comment below and I'll correct. Thanks.

** When photos of the new items in Pink Ice become available we'll post.

Winter Sports in WVa. - Ski Snowshoe

In Response to the Questions about Ski activities in WV - and is Snow Shoe open!
The following response is from friend in the know. hjh Hope this helps with your plans to
visit WVa.

Hey, There are a few places to ski in WV but the best is by far snowshoe. It has tons of trails, different activities (snowmobiles, snoeshoeing, tubing, snowboard park, ect.) and lots of restaurants and clubs. The village on top of the mountain is similar in style to vail, CO and has everything you need including a huge arcade/adventure building for kids. Snow has just begun to fall and it should have 6" by the end of the day. Opening day for ski season is Nov.26. You can contact snowshoe at their website, www.snowshoemtn.com or call them at 877-441-4FUN. Its a great area in the fall and summer also if you like to fly fish, mountain bike, or golf. Winterplace is a good place to go if you want to catch a good day or two of skiing and is closer to Charleston, but it isn't a true resort like snowshoe is.Hope this helps, Gordon Lane

Blogger Network

My good friend Chris' Blog http://not-my.blogspot.com/ discusses most everything except BLENKO GLASS and WEST VIRGINIA CRAFTS Note: He will on occasion post BLENKO GLASS SALES and other events. He's been known to activate the 304 Bloggers and have everyone POST BLENKO Events. Bloggers network a good group of people to know. Chris is the people person, he knows everyone, and is generous with info and time. Today his blog is about Bill Maher's Film .....
"I was driving by Park Place Cinemas (which I still have a tendency to call "Cinema 7") in downtown Charleston Sunday between two hospital hearings and was thrilled when I saw Bill Maher's Religulous on the marquee! I never expected that I would be seeing that film come to Charleston, WV as I was just discussing it with JDB the other day who had caught this film when it opened in Pittsburgh on the same logic. JDB reviews this film much better than I could over at Infinity Ranch (so check it out) but here is my crack at it. Bill Maher likes to be irreverent and I appreciate that about him. He was one of the first who spoke out against the George W. Bush administration when their solution to 9/11 was to tell people to slap a flag sticker on their car and go to the mall as a way to help the nation ... now 7 years later look where we are. His book When You Ride Alone, You Ride With Bin Laden was brilliant and I used to watch his tv show when it was on Comedy Central"

ONLY at the Visitors Center!

Sweet Pea photo from www.blenkoglass.com

Available for purchase only at the visitors center ( phone 304 743 9081 and ask for Diane or Mindy - they may arrange shipping). SWEET PEA and FESTIVAL OF GLASS VASE.

We received a note from our Milton reader who says SWEET PEA and Festival of GLASS VASE are both available in very limited quantities at the Visitors Center in Milton (BLENKO GLASS http://www.blenkoglass.com/ ).

If you haven't purchased these items - or if you have - now is the time to get another for Holiday Gift Giving!

These items were part of a very limited run. Great Value. Blenko Glass. Made in West Virginia.

Blenko Glass Visitors Center

Its NOT TOO LATE - to get the PERFECT Halloween Pumpkin! www.blenkoglass.com phone 304 743 9081 ask Diane or Mindy to select one and ship it to you.

Jar Fly RIchmond

The gentleman standing is JARFLY RICHMOND, he was one of BLENKO's very best , he later became shop foreman. The BLENKO PROJECT theblenkoproject@aol.com is searching for information about JARFLY RICHMOND to add to the website. If you have glass made by Jar Fly, personal stories about Jar Fly, photos that include Jar Fly. You knew Jarfly and You have time for an interview please contact us. We want to feature JarFly and Jessie Carpenter and l/2 dozen other craftsmen from BLENKO in the way Shorty Finley is currently featured on the www.blenkoproject.org website. Your assistance is needed and your help in preserving the history of GLASS MAKING in West Virginia will be allow our children and grandchildren to have this information readily available. Thank You. Hillary Digit Image of Blenko Glass - Blenko W.Va. Post Card. Post Card sent by Blog Reader.

JPM Joel Philip Myers

To view examples of JPM Myers work at Blenko Glass. Check out www.blenkoproject.org or the Blenko Collectors four, Blenko Collectors Society or Blenko Museum. hjh

One Blog Reader NOW describes her self as LUCKY - she bought a BLENKO VASE that was Signed by WH BLENKO and also had the JPM 2965 marked on the glass, she wrote to ask what the JPM meant? We don't know how many BLENKO items JPM signed - thats a question the Blenko Collectors Society maybe able to answer, (another reason to join the BCS) but I can tell you the JPM isn't an everyday occurrence. Below is info provided by WEBMASTER STEVE about Joel Philip Myers.

Photo of Joel Philip Myers with Matt Carter (another former BLENKO GLASS Designer). Photo is from Matt Carter's file.

Joel Philip Myers (born 1934; resides Ording, Denmark)
Joel Philip Myers graduated with honors from the Department of Advertising Design at Parsons School of Design in 1954. After spending a year studying ceramic design in Copenhagen, Denmark, Myers earned both a B.F.A. and an M.F.A. from New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University, NY. From 1963 to 1970, Myers served as Director of Design at Blenko Company, in Milton, WV. From 1970 to 1997, he served as Distinguished Professor of Art at Illinois State University, Normal, IL. Myers has an extensive list of students who went on to establish themselves as noteworthy artists. Like Harvey Littleton, Joel Myers also possesses an encyclopedic list of awards and honors, solo and group exhibits, collectors, and publications. Awards and honors range from Honorary Life Member of the Glass Art Society to Fellow of the American Crafts Council, and Fellowship recipient from the National Endowment for the Arts. Among his innumerable exhibits are Joel Philip Myers & David Huchthausen (former student and assistant), Contemporary Art Niki Gallery, Tokyo, Japan, 1994; Joel Philip Myers, which traveled in Europe under the auspices of the Glasmuseum in Ebeltoft, Denmark, 1993; Joel Philip Myers and Students, Galerie L in Hamburg, 1991; and History of American Glass, co-organized by Corning and the Toledo Museum of Art, and exhibited at the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia, among other major venues. Collectors range from The Art Institute of Chicago, to The Museum of Decorative Art, Prague, Australian Crafts Council, and Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art, Japan. Myers’ work is characterized by exquisite craftsmanship and an extraordinarily strong sense of formal design. Joel Myers is ften cited as the most 'successful' of the BLENKO designers.

PROBLEM will be solved this day.

The blog hasn't allowed for comments in the last few days. We are attempting to repair this.
Please check back later today. Or email your comments to theblenkoproject@aol.com. Thanks HJH

Blenko Pumpkin Lamp

This luscious lamp came to my home today, a Halloween gift from my parents. It was made by BLENKO GLASS http://www.blenkoglass.com/ . This is the first year these jack o lantern lamps have been offered at BLENKO GLASS. The story I was told... is Randy Rider and company wanted to create something special for the 'customer' and they made table lamps and nite lights. The cost varies between $50-70. This item will become a permanent part of my Decor from Sept to November! The lamp comes in the clear pumpkin color (orange) glass or frosted - mine is clear. My Mom thought the frosted was prettier but she bought the clear as she knows I prefer clear glass. If you buy the frosted - send photos.
Phone BLENKO today, or run by the Visitors Center before the limited number of Pumpkin Lamps have been sold . Turn on your PUMPKIN LAMP to celebrate not only Halloween but Fall.

Webmaster Steve provides the following info: A jack-o'-lantern (sometimes also spelled Jack O'Lantern) is typically a carved pumpkin. It is associated chiefly with the holiday Halloween, and was named after the phenomenon of strange light flickering over peat bogs, called ignis fatuus or jack-o'-lantern. In a jack-o'-lantern, typically the top is cut off, and the inside flesh then scooped out; an image, usually a monstrous face, is carved onto the outside surface, and the lid replaced. At night a light (commonly a candle) is placed inside to illuminate the effect. The term is not particularly common outside North America, although the practice of carving lanterns for Halloween is. Note: BLENKO GLASS makes the COOLEST PUMPKINS AND JACK O LANTERNS . Blenko made in the USA, Blenko Glass made in WVa by West Virginians.