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In the United States, Blenko was one of the most innovative custom glass producers. After World War II, Willia H. Blenko Jr. became the third generation to join the family firm and his arrival coincided with that of Winslow Anderson, the first in-house designer employed by the Blenkos. Trained as a ceramicist, Anderson had no experience with designer glass but was nevertheless given carte blanche to design the new range of vases and tableware produced between 1948 and 1953.

His most famous creations include the sculptural Horn vase and the 948 decanter, its bent neck the result of a happy accident on the blowing floor. When Anderson left Blenko, he was replaced by Wayne Husted, who produced oversize designs with large, sculptural stoppers. These playful, decorative glass vessels were caricatures of traditional functional forms. The Blenko art glass of this period was produced in vibrant colors, a legacy of the firm's origins in the stained–glass industry. Some have famous associations: Rose, for example, was much loved by Jackie Kennedy.

Image. Blenko yellow glass fish

Image. Blenko bubble wrap vase.

CentraI European cut glass flourished during this period,despite the oppressive political climate. Work by masters such as Jiri Harcuba show great skill and sophislicated,often abstract, decorative expression.Vessels in Harcuba's oeuvre sometimes have concave lens panels set into one side to magnify the hand cut decoration. Stylized and abstracted depictions of trees, birds, and animals, often incorporating geometric patterns. Although clear glass predominates, some examples use layers of color to accentuate the cut designs.

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