Vintage Blenko Hand-Blown Glass Top Hat Vase
A whimsical and wonderfully characterful piece of American mid-century art glass, this hand-blown Blenko Top Hat Vase is shaped in the unmistakable form of a classic gentleman's top hat — a playful, sculptural vessel that is as much a conversation piece as it is a decorative object. Blenko Glass Company, founded in Milton, West Virginia in 1893, is one of America's most celebrated and enduring art glass studios, renowned for its richly colored, hand-blown glass that has been collected and admired for over a century. Each Blenko piece is made entirely by hand using traditional glassblowing techniques passed down through generations of skilled craftspeople, meaning no two pieces are ever completely identical. The vivid, saturated color of Blenko's glass — achieved through the careful blending of metallic oxides into the molten glass — is one of the studio's most distinctive and recognizable characteristics. The top hat form appears across multiple decades of Blenko's production history, making this a classic and highly recognizable shape for collectors of American art glass and mid-century decorative objects. A sculptural, joyful addition to any bookshelf, console, or curated display — and a striking standalone object in any interior. Details: Maker: Blenko Glass Company, Milton, West Virginia Period: 1960s–1980s Technique: Hand-blown glass, thick and heavy construction Form: Figural top hat — used as a novelty vase, ice bucket, candy dish, or bottle chiller Glass: Clear glass with undulating brim and open cylindrical crown Base: Faint oval pontil scar from the glassblowing process Provenance: Private estate Condition: Minor surface scratches and scuffing consistent with age and use