Truly the crown jewels of the glass world, filled with the fire from which they were produced, color suspended in time …these words have been used to describe the incredible creations from Blenko Glass. Yet, had it not been for the determination of a fiery little Englishman in the 1800s, Blenko might never have existed.
In the summer of 1893, William J Blenko found himself in a frustrating position. At his factory in Kokomo, Indiana he was producing beautiful stained glass windows, but he was hard pressed to find buyers. It was the custom of the day for builders to purchase stained glass imported from established European glassworks and convincing them to buy local was just not working.
Determined to find a market for his glass, Blenko returned to his homeland of England where, for the next six years, he made the exact same product that he had made at his Indiana factory, exported it to America and established himself as a glassmaker. With his credibility established, he returned to the States in 1889 and opened a new glassworks in Milton. West Virginia. Within the year his talent and determination were rewarded with a contract to provide stained glass windows for St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City. The work was breathtaking, earning Blenko national recognition and laying a foundation for what would become one of the most enduring names in glass.
Always looking to advance their customer base, Blenko added a line of tableware that was carried at high-end department stores from 1930-1946. Although fully serviceable, it was highly appreciated for its classic lines and collected by Hollywood celebrities of the day and at one point purchased for use at the White House.
By the late 40s the taste of the American buying public had shifted to “art glass” and Blenko stepped up to fill the demand with cutting edge architectural scale designs from John Nickerson (1953-1963) and Wayne Husted (1970-1974).
With the renewed interest in fashion and decor from mid-20th century, Belenko is once again finding an audience. It is a case of buyer beware in the category of collecting as “look alike” Blenko abounds. The Blenko National Collectors page has a wealth of information on authentic Blenko including a wonderful page that allows you to test your knowledge of reproductions and fakes. Visit them online at blenkocollectors.com.
The company reorganized in 2013 and they are reissuing many of their classic designs from the 1950s and 60s. While fine quality, these “new” pieces are of little interest to collectors who watch for the classic shapes and vibrant colors produced from 1947-1976. Until next time….Linda
Linda Kennett is a professional liquidation consultant specializing in down-sizing for seniors and the liquidation of estates and may be reached at 317-253-7835 or lkennett@indy.rr.com
