Pair of Clear Glass Half Moon Glass Bookends by Wayne Husted for Blenko
About the Item
- Creator:Wayne Husted (Designer),Blenko Glass (Maker)
- Dimensions:Height: 5 in (12.7 cm)Width: 5 in (12.7 cm)Depth: 5 in (12.7 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 2
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1960s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:San Diego, CA
- Reference Number:
Blenko Glass
A producer of hand-blown glass since 1893, Blenko Glass is currently headquartered in Milton, West Virginia, where it has operated since 1921. Among its many illustrious projects are the stained-glass windows it produced for St. Patrick’s Cathedral and the Washington National Cathedral. Blenko is known today for the brilliant colors of its glass vases, decanters and other vessels and objects — particularly those produced in the 1950s and ’60s — which range from jewel-like blues and greens to brilliant reds and yellows.
The company was founded by William J. Blenko, an English immigrant who was apprenticed to a glassmaker in his native London as a young man. Blenko developed expertise in the production of rondels, the round panes used in stained glass windows.
Blenko's interest in the potential of natural gas to fire glass furnaces led him to Milton, where abundant reserves of the fuel had attracted a pool of skilled glassblowers. Under the name Eureka Glass, his company began making window glass in 1923, and in 1925, he was joined in the business by his son, William H. Blenko.
When the Great Depression quelled demand for stained glass, William J. Blenko brought local Milton glassblowers into the company to begin producing stemware and tableware, products for which the company, which changed its name to Blenko in 1930, is now best known.
Up until the end of World War II, Blenko’s tableware designs were fairly straightforward, and they sold well at American department stores such as Gump’s, in San Francisco. The company was also commissioned in 1930 to produce a line of reproductions for Colonial Williamsburg.
In 1947, the company hired as its art director Winslow Anderson, who introduced artful, fanciful and modern vessels and objects in vibrant colors. This began what collectors refer to as Blenko’s “historic period.” A number of Anderson’s designs were honored by the Museum of Modern Art’s Good Design Awards in 1950, and throughout the 1950s and ‘60s, the company enjoyed robust sales and critical acclaim. The forms Blenko produced during this period followed the contemporary vogue for biomorphism, or organic modernism, which favored rounded and fluid shapes inspired by nature.
One of Blenko’s most influential designers, Wayne Husted, who was active from 1953 to ’63, is credited with aligning Blenko’s products with the prevailing mid-century modern aesthetic by pushing the envelope on both form and color, particularly in his wedge-cut and Spool decanters and his Echoes series.
Joel Philip Myers, who designed for Blenko in the 1960s, brought a sense of whimsy and visual excess to the product line, in keeping with the psychedelic look favored during the period.
Blenko Glass still produces many of its classic designs in items ranging from stemware and tableware to decorative objects and ornamental decanters.
Among collectors, pieces created under Husted’s creative direction are of special interest. The company has come to the attention of younger audiences through the documentaries Blenko: Hearts of Glass and Blenko Retro: Three Designers of American Glass, both of which aired on PBS. Blenko also designed the glass award trophy for the Country Music Awards.
Find vintage Blenko glass for sale on 1stDibs.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: San Diego, CA
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 3 days of delivery.
- Pair of Clear Glass Half Moon Glass Bookends by Wayne Husted for BlenkoBy Blenko Glass, Wayne HustedLocated in San Diego, CAGorgeous clear glass half moon bookends designed by Wayne Husted for Blenko, circa 1960s. They are in very good vintage condition with no chips or scra...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookends
MaterialsGlass
- Pair of Midcentury Glass Owl Bookends by BlenkoBy Blenko GlassLocated in San Diego, CAMidcentury pair of handblown owl bookends by Blenko, circa 1960s. The bookends are heavy and solid with a smooth back side a finish and a textural finish on the front. Very cool deco...Category
Mid-20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Bookends
MaterialsBlown Glass
- Pair of Ice Block Emerald Glass Bookends by Blenko GlassBy Blenko GlassLocated in San Diego, CANice pair of of free flow ice block emerald glass bookends by Blenko Glass, circa 1970s. The bookends look like a large chunk of ice with a very cool three dimensional effect and mea...Category
Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookends
MaterialsGlass
- Pair of Midcentury Amber Glass Owl Bookends by BlenkoBy Blenko GlassLocated in San Diego, CAMidcentury pair of handblown amber colored owl bookends by Blenko, circa 1960s. The bookends are heavy and solid with a smooth back side a finish and a textural finish on the front. ...Category
Mid-20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Bookends
MaterialsBlown Glass
- Pair of Rare Emerald Green Glass Bookends by BlenkoBy Blenko GlassLocated in San Diego, CAPair of solid emerald green bookends by Blenko excellent condition.Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookends
MaterialsGlass
- Vintage Midcentury Glass Owl Bookends by BlenkoBy Blenko GlassLocated in San Diego, CABeautiful pair of midcentury glass owl bookends by Blenko from the 1960s with original signature seal sticker. Incredible craftsmanship and detail in this pair of glass bookends that...Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures
MaterialsBlown Glass
- Mid-Century Modern Blenko Clear Glass Half Circle Bookends by Wayne HustedBy Wayne Husted, Blenko GlassLocated in St. Louis, MOPair of Wayne Husted designed clear half glass bookends for Blenko, circa 1960s. In fine condition, no damage. Original Label, possible model # 434.Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Bookends
MaterialsGlass
- Blenko Glass Twisted Hearts Clear Block Bookends Wayne Husted, 1969By Wayne Husted, Blenko GlassLocated in Miami, FLBlenko glass twisted hearts clear block bookends, Wayne Husted 1969 Offered for sale is a pair of Blenko "Twisted Hearts" clear block bookends designed by Wayne Husted in 1969. Th...Category
Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookends
MaterialsGlass
- Mid-Century Modern Blenko Clear Textured Glass Bear Bookends by Wayne HustedBy Wayne Husted, Blenko GlassLocated in St. Louis, MOPair of MCM Wayne Husted designed clear textured glass bear bookends for Blenko, circa 1960s. In fine condition, no damage. partial labels. In fine condition, no issues. Model 4034Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Bookends
MaterialsGlass
- Mid-Century Modern Blenko Clear Textured Glass Elephant Bookends by Wayne HustedBy Wayne Husted, Blenko GlassLocated in St. Louis, MOPair of MCM Wayne Husted designed clear textured glass Elephant bookends for Blenko, circa 1960s. In fine condition, no damage. no Label. In fine condition, no issues.Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Bookends
MaterialsGlass
- Blenko Clear Glass Half Circle Bookends, PairBy Wayne Husted, Blenko GlassLocated in Fort Lauderdale, FLPair of vintage handmade half circle bookends in solid glass by Blenko. Both with original foil label.Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookends
MaterialsGlass, Art Glass
- Mid-Century Modern Blenko Bookends by Wayne Husted, USA, 1960'sBy Wayne Husted, Blenko GlassLocated in Costa Mesa, CAMid-Century Modern Blenko Bookends by Wayne Husted, USA, 1960's.Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookends
MaterialsGlass, Art Glass