There's no better way to make your home feel like yours than by filling it with colorful and stylish décor—especially when it comes to glassware! The Blenko Glass Company has been a fan favorite for over a hundred years, and we can see why.
There's something in it for everyone, whether you adore letting the sun shine through the vibrant range of colors on your windowsill or are searching for the perfect gift for your antiquing friend. Learn a bit about the history of the timeless company and discover how to hunt for authentic vintage Blenko glass with our help!
The Origins of the Blenko Glass Company
Though the company technically dates all the way back to the original owner, William John Blenko, who dreamed of handcrafting superior glass in England in 1893, the Blenko Glass Company was truly solidified as one of the best in the business in Milton, West Virginia, in 1921. After a couple of years of stocking a small hillside barn with all the necessary materials, tools, and furnaces and hiring a crew of locals, they began manufacturing under the name Eureka! In 1923, he set up shop at the current location, where they've continued the same traditions ever since.
After they saw a downturn in sales during the Depression Era, William secured the services of two highly trained Swedish craftsmen to train the team on new techniques for even more beautiful glass designs. By 1930, as sales increased rapidly, the family had changed the name to Blenko Glass—securing it as a household name all over the world.
Is Blenko Still in Business?
Yes, Blenko Glass Company is still in business—and it's managed to remain in the family ever since its opening! Currently, John W. Blenko, MD, is president and is the fifth generation to lead the business in its success.
What Makes Vintage Blenko Glass Valuable?
When it comes to valuing collectible glass, there are a few things experts at the vendor mall have to take into consideration before pricing antique Blenko glass:
Rarity: As with all vintage collections, like collectible Hot Wheels, the rarer an item is, the more value it has. Vintage and antique Blenko glass could vary in price based on how many are left on the market.
Age: The year a design was manufactured has everything to do with its value. For instance, a vintage Blenko glass piece from 1980 could be priced at a much lower value than an antique Blenko glass from the earliest years of production.
Condition: When you're shopping for rare Blenko glass, make sure to pay attention to the condition. Something in near-perfect or "mint" condition will fetch a high price, while something with scratches and cracks should be worth less. But if you find a design that is damaged, don't discount it—those who collect purely for nostalgia will likely still buy it!
Colors: Antique Blenko glass is known for its wide range of rich and deep colors—a list that only grew over time! Both the type of color and its intensity can affect the price. Certain collectors stick to one hue, while others search for the whole rainbow.
How to Identify Blenko Glassware
When you stop by an Indiana antique mall, you'll likely be met with types of collectible glassware left and right—so how do you know when something carries the Blenko name? Follow these helpful tips so you can find authentic antique Blenko glass and start a collection:
Look for a "Handmade" Vintage Blenko Glass Sticker
When it comes to identifying vintage Blenko designs, it can all come down to the famous Blenko glass markings. The company has always used a signature sticker on each of its designs to help signal that the piece is handcrafted by the artisans at Blenko, setting them apart from fake replicas. The sticker has changed over the years (which is a huge help in identifying the era a piece comes from), but they all share the phrase "Blenko Handcraft."
Check for a Pontil Mark on the Bottom of Rare Blenko Glass
All genuine vintage Blenko glass is hand-blown, which results in a major telltale characteristic: the pontil mark. Once an artisan is finished shaping a design, they break it off the pontil rod, leaving behind a scar on the surface. This is known as the Blenko glass marking. If you find a piece of antique glassware and suspect it could be a rare Blenko design, you can catch these rough and irregular areas by smoothing over it with your finger.
Authenticate the Antique Blenko Glass By Color
Blenko is known for releasing a wide array of designs in every shade, from the very first ruby red hue to one of the more recent absinthe greens. When you pick up a piece of suspected vintage Blenko glassware at a Melbourne antique mall, you can use the vibrant color to determine if it is, in fact, a rare Blenko design, as well as determine its likely year of production, as each time period is known for its own iconic color palette.
Popular Vintage Blenko Glass Colors:
Tangerine
Azure
Cerulean
Rose
Crystal
Cobalt
Honey
Olive
Apricot
Take a Look at the Clarity and Transparency of the Vintage Blenko Glass
Most antique and vintage Blenko designs, especially those manufactured during the '40s, '50s, '60s, and '70s, will be completely transparent, unlike the popular milk glass of the time. All pieces, whether they are common or rare Blenko glass, will be completely pure to the human eye. Any design that has bubbles or discolorations in the glass is definitely a fake replica!
Consult the Antique Blenko Glass Catalogs
When in doubt, check the catalogs! The Blenko Glass Company offers a complete collection of vintage catalogs to help make your search for valuable and rare Blenko glass even easier.
Where Can You Shop for Antique Blenko Glass?
While many collectors make high-value purchases on online forums and auction sites, such as eBay, the best place to have a hands-on experience is an antique mall. With hundreds of vendors all under one roof, you up your chances of finding the perfect authentic antique Blenko glassware for your home. Who knows what rare and collectible glass you'll find waiting behind the doors of an antique mall near Orlando?
Colorful, durable, and oh-so-collectible, it's no wonder why people love hunting for antique Blenko glass! Stop by one of our antique mall locations to join the frenzy today.
Comments