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Rare and Important "Rialto" Specialty line Blenko Vase
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In 1960 Wayne Husted engaged Blenko in a daring new experiment; the production of three entirely new and distinctive Specialty Lines. Each line was stylistically and technically consistent and each was given a name; Raindrop, Regal and Rialto . Rialto was the most unusual and innovative of the three; a translucent white glass encased in crystal with applied Ruby elements or stoppers. The introduction of these specialty lines involved tested Blenko's production capabilities as it added 50 new designs to the standard line of about 140. In addition, the new designs were both more difficult and costly to produce. The new endeavor was a daring experiment for a small company like Blenko and is a good indication of the confidence they had in their success. These exceptional new lines sold at a premium and demonstrated that Blenko was indeed a design leader and willing to take significant risks with bold new ventures. But the experiment was a short lived one; in fact Rialto and Raindrop were made in very small quantities for only for one year and the Regal line was expanded then discontinued the following year. Rialto represented the extent to which Blenko was willing to experiment with more technically demanding production. This was the only time that Blenko used two contrasting colors in a single design as well as the first time - and for decades also the only time - the company used a translucent color. With Rialto, Husted's genius was in creating a design that incorporated two contrasting colors while still creating a product that stuck to the core of Blenko's modern design identity without becoming fussy or imitating the complexity of virtuoso Italian glass. It would be no exaggeration to say that Rialto represented Blenko at its absolute pinnacle. This graceful and exceptional vase is an excellent representation of the line; an attenuated and asymmetrical hourglass form with an applied lip of contrasting ruby red. The opalescent white body fades gracefully at the center emphasizing the misty translucence and drama of the color. At over 13 inches tall this is the largest of the four vases in the Rialto line. This vase was published in the Fall 2007 issue of Modernism Magazine's article "Blenko Glass; for the Museums and the Masses." |
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