Blenko Cat Decanter

This amazing figural design is clearly one of designer Wayne Husted's most innovative moments. This rare cat shaped decanter with removable head stopper was part of a series of three iterations of the form, including a small decanter and vase form (pictured as a group below). Whereas the smaller version is called the "kitty" decanter in the original catalog, this dignified Siamese sentinel is the "cat" decanter, out of deference to its imposing scale.

This version of the three variations of the design is by far the rarest, having been made for only one year (compared to two for the others) and due to the fact that clearly fewer must have been made - no doubt the very high price in the original 1955 retail catalog explains this. It is also the most impressive.

Clearly the form is a decorative sculpture and not intended to be functional, as is often incorrectly assumed due to the handle-like tail. However the protruding tail that wraps gracefully around the side of the body from bottom to top either regularly suffered from annealing problems during fabrication (different types of glass cool at different speeds, thus resulting in stress between the two) or was just misused. Based on the regularity of occurrence I would assume the former. Regardless the reason, the result is the same; the majority of these cats have fractures within the top tail joint, as does this one.

Very rare Cat decanter designed by Wayne Husted in 1955 and made for 1 year only, #5510L in Charcoal, 16.75in.H x 5.5in.D

*Description and photo from Glasshouse Check out this webstore for the best quality and most unique selection of BLENKO and Vintage Glass.