How do you identify Blenko glass?
Break out the Blenko Catalog
- Don’t be daunted thinking you need to memorize all 1,200+ hues located on the Blenko color wheel. The best way to identify Blenko glass is easy; locate your piece in the official Blenko glass catalogs. As for where you can obtain a copy of these official Blenko bibles? You can download vintage Blenko glass catalogs from every year dating back to 1950 direct on the Blenko website.
Look for Transparency.
- Most Blenko colors, especially those produced from the 1940s to 1970s, will maintain alluring transparency. (Not unlike Murano glass.) Collectors can identify authentic Blenko wares by looking for the company’s signature sticker, which is often found on the bottom of their tableware and other items. Since Blenko doesn’t have maker’s marks, checking for transparency can be an easy way to double-ensure you have authentic Blenko on your hands, especially if you have a less unique design—such as a double-spouted pitcher or oval pinch vase—on hand.
Full Transparency: A Note on Blenko
Although Blenko is usually associated with Mid-Century Modernism, the company actually started in 1893. Originally named the Eureka Glass Company, the company’s original claim to fame was glass made using natural gas and procuring a top-secret recipe for red glass. Blenko Glass has been headquartered in Milton, West Virginia, since 1921, where it continues to produce its iconic handcrafted glassware. In the mid 20th century, Blenko became a part of the modern lexicon, renowned for its rainbow-hued bottles that partnered perfectly with bold Mid-Century Modern furnishings.
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Lead image by Brad Knipstein
