CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A limited-edition Blenko Glass Father’s Day tankard honoring Gov. Jim Justice is now for sale at the state Culture Center.
The glass piece was unveiled Wednesday afternoon at the Governor’s Mansion by Justice and first lady Cathy Justice.
Andrew Shaffer, a Design Director for the Blenko Glass Company, said the inspiration behind it was a look at the 17th and 18th-century history and the founding fathers of the United States.
The piece is a rich cobalt color with a paw-paw hued handle with the governor’s signature sandblasted on the bottom with his initials and state outline etched on one side.
Shaffer noted Wednesday how much of a rich history that the state has with glass.
“The high concentration of that is really something special,” he said. “Cultural heritage of West Virginia and how it has brought so many people to the state originally. It’s a very interesting history.”
Shaffer said there have been almost 480 glass factories in the state in the past 200 years, and that collectors around the country are in awe of West Virginia’s history.
Only 100 pieces went on sale Wednesday that will sell for $44 inside the Culture Center.