Blenko Glass Company
Encyclopedia
Blenko Glass Company, located in Milton, West Virginia
, is known for its artistic hand-blown glass.
, in the US, where he established the first American factory to produce sheet glass for stained glass
windows. In 1903 he was forced to close his factory and return to England, due to an economic downturn.
His second business venture was in 1909, in Point Marion, Pennsylvania
. This endeavor quickly failed, as did a third, in Clarksburg, West Virginia
. At that time, Blenko found work at other established Ohio
and West Virginia
glass companies and purportedly received a job offer from Louis Comfort Tiffany
.
In 1921, Blenko started another sheet glass company, this time setting up in Milton, West Virginia
spurred on by the low natural gas
prices in the area, a major concern for glass manufacturers of the time, which drew many prospective glassblowers to the area. His new company was originally named Eureka Glass Company, later changing the name to Blenko. Until the arrival of his son, William H. Blenko, in 1923, he had no employees, making and selling all of his glass himself.
Soon after the onset of the Great Depression
, which decimated the stained glass market, Blenko began to produce stemware
and tableware
, after finding two expert glassblowers to work for the company in 1930. However, this did not mean the end of Blenko’s stained glass industry. Blenko Glass Company still produces hand-blown sheet glass for use in stained glass windows, as well as architectural glass
.
in New York City, helping the company earn national renown. Prior to 1946 Blenko's tableware output was largely functional and classical in form but sold very well at high end department stores throughout the country. As a testament to the popularity of Blenko's early tableware, the White House
has a collection of Blenko table ware, which is used periodically.
Change came in 1947 with the decision to hire a full time design director, Winslow Anderson. The work of the company's first designers achieved much critical acclaim, including having several of Anderson's designs receive the Museum of Modern Art
’s Good Design Awards in 1950, thereby ensconcing Blenko as a leader in modern American glass through the 1950s and 1960s. Blenko's "Historic Period", the focus of collector and cultural interest, begins with Anderson in 1946 and includes the work of John Nickerson up to 1974. The second designer, Wayne Husted, did much to propel the company into the forefront of cutting-edge design, notably including pioneering the concept of "architectural scale" designs. Husted's successor in 1964, Joel Philip Myers, a founder of the Studio Glass movement, further improved the company's importance and reputation by directly engaging Blenko with Studio Glass.
A new wave of public interest in Blenko began with the opening of the Blenko Museum in 2000, the first independent organization dedicated to research and education of the company's historical work. Aside from curating year-long exhibitions of the company's work, the Blenko Museum worked with the Corning Museum of Glass
in 2005 to include Blenko in a small but powerful survey exhibition organized by Tina Oldknow, Curator of Modern Glass, titled “Decades in Glass: the ‘50’s” featuring Wayne Husted's designs. With strong interest from collectors and nationwide exposure on PBS
television specials, the company's reputation has grown to reach new audiences. Blenko: Hearts of Glass and Retro Blenko; Three Designers of American Glass, two Blenko documentaries, gave the company national exposure and lead to Blenko glassware being frequently featured in PBS pledge drives nationwide. Fourth-generation company President Richard Blenko often personally participated in these pledge drives, generating a sharp spike in publicity and positive effects on the company. Despite increased fuel costs and a rapidly changing industry and marketplace, the company remained active until May 2011.
Blenko’s special commissions include the Country Music Awards trophy and numerous sculptures by the contemporary Studio Glass artist Hank Adams, represented in many museums throughout the US.
The Blenko Glass Company is housed in a multi-building facility including the Visitor's Center, office building and manufacturing, shipping and warehouse facilities. The Visitor's Center's first floor contains items available for sale including "seconds", while the upper floor contains a small display of Blenko's historical work, primarily early pieces from the 1930s and some experimental pieces and most notably includes a gallery of stained-glass windows made with Blenko sheet glass by different artisans.
Attached to the Visitor's Center is an observation area, allowing visitors to watch as the glass is blown. Beside the center is a “garden of glass”, installed by Joel Myers, on the shore of a small, man-made lake bordering the factory, strewn with colorful glass shards which borders a small trail that winds around part of the factory.
Milton, West Virginia
Milton is a town in Cabell County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 2,206 at the 2000 census.Milton is a part of the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area . As of the 2000 census, the MSA had a population of 288,649...
, is known for its artistic hand-blown glass.
Early history
William J. Blenko was born in London, England in 1853. He worked at a glass factory in his youth. In 1893 he emigrated to Kokomo, IndianaKokomo, Indiana
Kokomo is a city in and the county seat of Howard County, Indiana, United States, Indiana's 13th largest city. It is the principal city of the Kokomo, Indiana Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Howard and Tipton counties....
, in the US, where he established the first American factory to produce sheet glass for stained glass
Stained glass
The term stained glass can refer to coloured glass as a material or to works produced from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant buildings...
windows. In 1903 he was forced to close his factory and return to England, due to an economic downturn.
His second business venture was in 1909, in Point Marion, Pennsylvania
Point Marion, Pennsylvania
Point Marion is a borough in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,333 at the 2000 census. It is served by the Albert Gallatin Area School District.Point Marion is located at the confluence of the Monongahela and Cheat Rivers...
. This endeavor quickly failed, as did a third, in Clarksburg, West Virginia
Clarksburg, West Virginia
Clarksburg is a city in and the county seat of Harrison County, West Virginia, United States, in the north-central region of the state. It is the principal city of the Clarksburg, WV Micropolitan Statistical Area...
. At that time, Blenko found work at other established Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
and West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
glass companies and purportedly received a job offer from Louis Comfort Tiffany
Louis Comfort Tiffany
Louis Comfort Tiffany was an American artist and designer who worked in the decorative arts and is best known for his work in stained glass. He is the American artist most associated with the Art Nouveau and Aesthetic movements...
.
In 1921, Blenko started another sheet glass company, this time setting up in Milton, West Virginia
Milton, West Virginia
Milton is a town in Cabell County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 2,206 at the 2000 census.Milton is a part of the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area . As of the 2000 census, the MSA had a population of 288,649...
spurred on by the low natural gas
Natural gas
Natural gas is a naturally occurring gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, typically with 0–20% higher hydrocarbons . It is found associated with other hydrocarbon fuel, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is an important fuel source and a major feedstock for fertilizers.Most natural...
prices in the area, a major concern for glass manufacturers of the time, which drew many prospective glassblowers to the area. His new company was originally named Eureka Glass Company, later changing the name to Blenko. Until the arrival of his son, William H. Blenko, in 1923, he had no employees, making and selling all of his glass himself.
Soon after the onset of the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
, which decimated the stained glass market, Blenko began to produce stemware
Stemware
Stemware is drinkware that stands on stems above a base. It is usually made from glass, but may be made from ceramics or metals.Stemware includes:* Wine glasses* Champagne flutes* Chalices and goblets...
and tableware
Tableware
Tableware is the dishes or dishware , dinnerware , or china used for setting a table, serving food, and for dining. Tableware can be meant to include flatware and glassware...
, after finding two expert glassblowers to work for the company in 1930. However, this did not mean the end of Blenko’s stained glass industry. Blenko Glass Company still produces hand-blown sheet glass for use in stained glass windows, as well as architectural glass
Architectural glass
Architectural glass is glass that is used as a building material. It is most typically used as transparent glazing material in the building envelope, including windows in the external walls. Glass is also used for internal partitions and as an architectural feature...
.
Increasing popularity
The company's early successes include providing glass for the stained glass windows of St. Patrick's CathedralSt. Patrick's Cathedral, New York
The Cathedral of St. Patrick is a decorated Neo-Gothic-style Roman Catholic cathedral church in the United States...
in New York City, helping the company earn national renown. Prior to 1946 Blenko's tableware output was largely functional and classical in form but sold very well at high end department stores throughout the country. As a testament to the popularity of Blenko's early tableware, the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
has a collection of Blenko table ware, which is used periodically.
Change came in 1947 with the decision to hire a full time design director, Winslow Anderson. The work of the company's first designers achieved much critical acclaim, including having several of Anderson's designs receive the Museum of Modern Art
Museum of Modern Art
The Museum of Modern Art is an art museum in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, on 53rd Street, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. It has been important in developing and collecting modernist art, and is often identified as the most influential museum of modern art in the world...
’s Good Design Awards in 1950, thereby ensconcing Blenko as a leader in modern American glass through the 1950s and 1960s. Blenko's "Historic Period", the focus of collector and cultural interest, begins with Anderson in 1946 and includes the work of John Nickerson up to 1974. The second designer, Wayne Husted, did much to propel the company into the forefront of cutting-edge design, notably including pioneering the concept of "architectural scale" designs. Husted's successor in 1964, Joel Philip Myers, a founder of the Studio Glass movement, further improved the company's importance and reputation by directly engaging Blenko with Studio Glass.
A new wave of public interest in Blenko began with the opening of the Blenko Museum in 2000, the first independent organization dedicated to research and education of the company's historical work. Aside from curating year-long exhibitions of the company's work, the Blenko Museum worked with the Corning Museum of Glass
Corning Museum of Glass
The Corning Museum of Glass, in Corning, New York, explores every facet of glass, including art, history, culture, science and technology, craft, and design....
in 2005 to include Blenko in a small but powerful survey exhibition organized by Tina Oldknow, Curator of Modern Glass, titled “Decades in Glass: the ‘50’s” featuring Wayne Husted's designs. With strong interest from collectors and nationwide exposure on PBS
Public Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
television specials, the company's reputation has grown to reach new audiences. Blenko: Hearts of Glass and Retro Blenko; Three Designers of American Glass, two Blenko documentaries, gave the company national exposure and lead to Blenko glassware being frequently featured in PBS pledge drives nationwide. Fourth-generation company President Richard Blenko often personally participated in these pledge drives, generating a sharp spike in publicity and positive effects on the company. Despite increased fuel costs and a rapidly changing industry and marketplace, the company remained active until May 2011.
Blenko’s special commissions include the Country Music Awards trophy and numerous sculptures by the contemporary Studio Glass artist Hank Adams, represented in many museums throughout the US.
The Blenko factory
Attached to the Visitor's Center is an observation area, allowing visitors to watch as the glass is blown. Beside the center is a “garden of glass”, installed by Joel Myers, on the shore of a small, man-made lake bordering the factory, strewn with colorful glass shards which borders a small trail that winds around part of the factory.
Further reading
- Blenko glass 1930-1953 by Eason Eige and Rick Wilson; research by Richard Blenko, Marietta, Ohio: Antique Publications, 1987, 144p
- Blenko; Uniquely American Modernist Glass Published in The Journal of Antiques and Collectibles, Vol. V No. 2, April 2004
- Blenko Glass: For Museums and the Masses Published in Modernism Magazine, Volume 10, No. 3, Fall, 2007