Blenko Yellow and Blue Vase. Name on underside. 

Trumpet vase with blue base. 

Size: 7 3/4 x 7 3/4 x 12 in.

Blenko Glass Company is an art glass company that began producing in 1922 under the name Eureka Art Glass Company. The company name was changed to Blenko Glass Company in 1930. Originally an antique flat glass company, it was founded by Englishman William J. Blenko (1854-1933). Blenko came to the United States to make glass in 1893. Over the next 25 years, he established glass factories in Indiana, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, all of which failed. His fourth glass factory, which opened in 1922, was finally a success, and still operates today. This factory is located in Milton, West Virginia, and Blenko family members still lead the company. William Blenko could make numerous colors of flat glass, and his products were used by other companies to make stained glass windows. The glass was made using a patented variation of an older method for making window glass called the cylinder method. Blenko used glassblowers that blew a glass cylinder into a mold. The cylinder was cut and flattened in an oven. All glassblowing was done by human glassblowers instead of a machine. The company’s biggest challenge was to get purchasers of glass to accept an American-made product, which was the primary contributing factor to his first three failed attempts. Blenko’s son William H. Blenko (1897-1969) joined the company in 1923. The Great Depression caused a decrease in demand for antique window glass, so the younger Blenko was instrumental in getting the company to begin producing glassware using numerous colors. During the 1940s the company began employing a designer, and the designer’s creations were sold as art glass, a subset of glassware. Production of glassware and flat glass also continued. The company survived difficult times during the 21st century, including a management change and a bankruptcy. Today, Blenko glassware and art glass, especially their unique crackle ware, are highly valued by collectors, and both are still produced in the West Virginia glass works.