Bravo for Blenko Bravo!

Blenko Glass’ new Bravo!  line by The Bayliss Design Team – 2007

I am a collector of Blenko Glass. My love of Blenko, particularly the pieces coming from Winslow Anderson and Wayne Husted, is ultimately what attracted me to the broader world of mid-century modern design.

I remember as a kid growing up in Huntington my family venturing to Milton a few times a year to the Blenko factory and outlet store. I have often wished I could travel back in time to grab some of the wonderful designs I was around then. Or, even better, that my family had held onto the pieces they had acquired in the early ’60’s.

Blenko produced during the 1980’s and 90’s, for the most part, didn’t light me up the same way the pieces from Blenko’s earlier lines did. They were nice, often very creative, but more often than not did not have the same modern flair as the pieces produced in the 50’s and 60’s.

This year Blenko introduced three new lines designed by The Bayliss Design Team. I will examine each over the next week or so here but want to begin with the Bravo! line.

Bravo! is marvelous!

The sleek lines of this very cohesive collection is reminiscent of the Scandinavian design roots of Blenko glass first explored by Winslow Anderson in the early 1950’s and further expanded upon by Wayne Husted.

The pieces are light, airy and natural.  The graceful lines are punctuated by a slight indentation in the body of each piece and the individual designs are as functional as they are gorgeous. Pouring liquids from the pitchers in this line is a joy – something some previous forms from Blenko didn’t do so well even when designed to do just that.

Then there are the colors – Sunshine, Dreamcicle, Clover, Electric Blue and Vineyeard. These are among the sexiest colors ever produced by Blenko and are all perfect for this mid-century inspired line.

Many of the classic Blenko pieces of the 50’s and 60’s have become highly sought after and garner prices that reflect the demand.  I fully expect the Bravo! line to follow the same path in the future. I’m buying mine now.