Blenko Glass Company has been a family owned and operated company since 1893. We have been located in Milton, WV since 1921. Exquisite color, skilled craftsmen, and imaginative designs have made Blenko famous in the time-honored craft of hand-blown glass.

Is Blenko Glass valuable?

10 Vintage and modern examples of Blenko glassworks are often an affordable option for starting a glass collection. In addition, during auctions in 2017, the prices paid for Blenko glass listed on LiveAuctioneers and Invaluable realized prices of $10 to $700.

How many glass factories are in West Virginia?

West Virginia has a rich tradition of glassmaking, with over 400 factories and manufacturers creating glass products since the late 1800s.

How do you know if it's Blenko glass?

Since Blenko did and does not follow a specific pattern, the general organic form of their glassware is at times similar to wares of other manufacturers. “Most—by far the majority [of]—pieces will not have the sticker. It was intended as a point of sale identification, not long-term identification,” Dean says.

What kind of glass is Blenko?

Blenko Glass Company still produces hand-blown sheet glass for use in stained glass windows, as well as architectural glass. Blenko’s early successes include providing glass for the stained glass windows of St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City, helping the company earn national recognition.

How do you tell if your glass is Murano?

1. Authentic Murano Glass has rich colors and often real gold or silver specks inside. …
2. An authentic Murano Glass object has an imperfect shape, or other small imperfections, or size and shape variations.

What years did blenko make crackle glass?

The heyday of Blenko crackle glass was the 1950s and ’60s. During that time, the creations of three specific glass artisans contributed much to the Blenko reputation: Winslow Anderson: Blenko’s first full-time designer, Anderson was with the firm from 1947-1952.

Who is Wayne Husted?

Wayne Husted was the most prolific Blenko designer and is often credited as the most talented and popular of the Blenko designers. … At an average of at least 60 designs a year during his ten years with Blenko, Husted created over 600 designs.

How long has Blenko Glass been making housewares?

The largest of the surviving glassmakers is the Blenko Glass Company, located in the tiny Mountain State town of Milton. Its skilled artisans still craft colorful handmade glassware in much the same way it’s been done for more than 100 years.

What is a famous brand from the West Virginia glass industry?

Seneca Glass Company logo from advertisement in 1905 Glass and Pottery World magazine. Plant was located in Morgantown, West Virginia, U.S.TypeCorporationProductslead-blown tumblers and stemwareRevenue$2 million (1969)Number of employees250 (1897)

Article first time published on

Is Fostoria crystal or glass?

The product was originally made in crystal, but later on a few pieces with color. The Baroque glass pattern was made by Fostoria from 1937 to 1965, and used for stemware and many types of tableware.

Where was the first glass making plant located in West Virginia?

In partnership with Edward Libbey, his former employer, Owens began his own company in 1909 to manufacture bottles, establishing his first plants in Fairmont and Clarksburg.

Who is Richard Blenko?

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.

Where is Blenko glass manufactured?

Craftsmanship That Lasts. Blenko Glass Company has been a family owned and operated company since 1893. We have been located in Milton, WV since 1921. Exquisite color, skilled craftsmen, and imaginative designs have made Blenko famous in the time-honored craft of hand-blown glass.

What happened Fenton Glass?

In 2011, the company closed its glassmaking facility. Since its closing, Fenton glass molds are being used by another glassmaker in Ohio to produce “Fenton” stamped products and collectibles, which continue to be sold in the Fenton Gift Shop in Williamstown, West Virginia.

What do you call glass that looks cracked?

Crackle Glass is known by other names, such as CRAQUELLE GLASS, ICE GLASS, OVERSHOT GLASS. It was the Venetian Glass Makers of the 16th Century, who invented this marvelous process. The glass was immersed in cold water while it was molten hot, thereby cracking the glass.

Is crackle glass hand blown?

Each piece of collectible crackle glass was hand blown by a glass artisan. Many pieces exhibit a rough bottom, called a “pontil mark” where the piece was “broken” off the blowtube when finished.

What style is crackle glass?

Crackle Glass. Crackle glass is not a style; it is not by any particular designer or company; it is not from any one period of time. Crackle is a finish added to the glass to give it a cracked or crackled overall texture. This finish affects neither the color not the form of the piece.

Why is Murano glass so expensive?

The main factor that determines the price of a Murano Glass piece is workmanship. … Another expensive Murano Glass technique is Sommerso, which is crafted by carefully dipping glass of one color into molten glass of another color, and potentially creating more than 2 layers this way.

What is so special about Murano glass?

Murano glass is created only on the island of Murano, located within the borders of the city of Venice in Northern Italy. … This method of glass-making results in unique creations with rich coloring and beautiful, sometimes surreal, patterns and shapes, which are real artworks.

Is Murano glass hand blown?

All Murano pieces are hand-blown glass or mouth-blown. Many of the hand tools used by these master glassmakers are designs from the middle ages. Murano glass includes everything from vases and chandeliers to Christmas ornaments and glass jewelry beads.

Who made blendo glassware?

You’ve no doubt seen these iconic serving pieces but may not know that the line is called Blendo Glassware and was manufactured during the 1950s and ’60s by the West Virginia Specialty Glass Company of Weston, West Virginia.

What is Stelvia glass?

Stelvia, or S.T.E.L.V.I.A. (full name Società Toscana Esercizio Lavorazione Vetri Industriali e Artistici) was established in the 1950’s, in the region of Empoli, near Florence, Italy. Production concentrated mainly on colourful blown glass vases, jugs and other tableware. … Made in the Empoli region of Italy by Stelvia.

In what tourist region is Hawks Nest located?

Hawks Nest is located on the Midland Trail National Scenic Byway. The trail is the road of choice for those looking to leave the interstate behind and see the best of West Virginia, as Route 60 winds across West Virginia and is filled with scenic vistas, world-class rafting, artisan treasures and pioneer history.

What county is Milton WV in?

Milton is a town in Cabell County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 2,423 at the 2010 census. Milton is a part of the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA).

What is pink Depression glass?

Obtained via premiums in cereal boxes, purchased in dime stores, and given away as prizes in movie theaters, the colorful glass brightened the lives of homemakers facing harsh economic times. … Today, this glass with its sunset-pink hue attracts savvy collectors and flea market vendors.

What is Fostoria worth?

Fostoria Glass Value Prices for pieces depend on the rarity of the item as compared to other runs. For example sets of 2056 stemmed water goblets can sell for prices at less than $4 each. But, 2056 vases, much rarer in number, can fetch greater prices. The “bagged” 2056 vase can go into the hundreds of dollars each.

What is Fostoria American?

Fostoria’s American Pattern Of all the highly successful patterns included in Weatherman’s book, American is Fostoria’s all-time bestseller. Introduced in 1915, American was produced for many, many years in a wide variety of pieces ranging from dinnerware to elaborate punch sets.

Where and by who was the glass industry founded in western Virginia?

~In 1914, Charles Boldt started manufacturing glass in Huntington, in the southwest section of the city. ~By the early 1900s, many small companies had begun rudimentary mining operations along Warm Springs Ridge, just north of Berkeley Springs.

What glass is made in West Virginia?

Appalachian Glass is keeping the tradition of hand made glass and other dying arts alive in West Virginia with offerings of over 500 traditionally produced soda-lime crystal products.