Blenko Glass
Blenko Glass
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Blenko Glass: A short explanation |
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Blenko glass vase in crackle glass showing silver foil label There is always some Blenko glass for sale on ebay. Click Blenko glass to see. |
Eventually, at the age of 67, he succeeded with the glassworks he called "Eureka Art Glass" in Milton, West Virginia set up in 1921. His son, William Henry Blenko Sr. joined the company in 1923 at the age of 26, and four generations of the Blenko family have succeeded one another as president of the company. Richard D. Blenko, great grandson of the founder, joined the company in 1976 and followed his father as President in 1996. The company name was changed to Blenko Glass Company back in 1930.
Throughout its long existence, this company has completed some very impressive commissions for stained glass. In 1926 they produced stained glass for the windows in Liverpool Cathedral, England. In 1964 they produced the Dalle de Verre Glass for the New York World Fair Hall of Science. In 1968 they made the sheet glass for the Winston Churchill Memorial in Fulton, MO. In 1996 they made a stained glass window for Carnegie Mellon University. And there are cathedrals and churches around the world where Blenko stained glass has been used. But Blenko is more widely known for the art glass which they have made. This was an innovation introduced by William Henry Blenko Sr. after he joined the company in the early 1920s. In fact, it was probably William Henry's salesmanship and innovative flair which saved the company from failing yet again when the great depression hit America in the 1930s. All their glass is hand blown, they have never been a pressed glass factory nor used automated production methods. Having said that, a great deal of their output is simple in form and decoration. Major acheivements on the art glass front have included producing a 60 piece table setting for President Ronald Reagan's victory inaugural dinners in 1981. Supplying glassware to King Hussain of Jordan's Royal Palace in Amman in 1996. Producing the glass trophies supplied for various sports and entertainment events. |
