Collegiate 4" Suncatcher: University of Iowa, Tiger Hawk - Citrine

Investing in America's Future, One Piece at a Time

We understand our officially licensed collegiate pieces represent an investment - and here's exactly why they're worth every penny:

The Hand-Etching Difference
Unlike our standard water bottles, these collegiate pieces require hours of additional handwork after the glass is blown, annealed, and graded. Our talented on-site artist personally handles each piece, creating detailed stencils, hand-sandblasting designs with precision, carefully removing stencils, and applying special fills to make the etching pop. This isn't a quick logo application - it's meticulous artistic work that transforms each piece into personalized collegiate art.

Supporting Two American Institutions
Your purchase supports both your university and the dying art of handcrafted American made glass. Did you know there used to be over 470 glass manufacturers in West Virginia alone? There are now just four.

Licensing fees go directly to university programs, while the remainder allows us to maintain living wages and health insurance for our West Virginia workers, fund apprenticeship programs that train the next generation of American glassmakers, and invest in equipment that keeps domestic manufacturing competitive.

True Authentication
Every piece comes with multiple authenticity markers: official Blenko logo stickers, our sandblasted branding, and official holographic collegiate licensing stickers. You're not buying knockoffs - you're investing in legitimate partnerships that respect both university traditions and artisan craft.

Heirloom Quality
While plastic or other alternatives might cost less initially, these pieces will serve your family for generations. The hand-blown glass and hand-etched designs won't fade, peel, or wear away. Fifty years from now, your grandchildren can showcase these same pieces with the same pride you feel today.

The Bigger Picture
In an era of offshore manufacturing and automated production, choosing these pieces makes a statement. You're saying that American jobs matter, that craft traditions deserve preservation, and that quality is worth more than convenience. These aren't just university products - they're investments in American manufacturing's future.

Choose your school. Choose American craft. Choose quality that lasts forever.

Every Detail Confirms Authenticity

When you invest in our American-made officially licensed collegiate glassware, you deserve assurance that you're receiving the real thing. That's why each piece features multiple authentication markers, strategically placed to confirm both Blenko craftsmanship and official university licensing.

Water Bottle Authentication:

• Blenko Sticker: Our signature Blenko sticker appears on the opposite side from the etched collegiate design, allowing you to display your school pride while confirming authentic Blenko quality
• Sandblasted Details: The bottom also features our sandblasted Blenko logo and year of production, permanently etched proof of when and where your piece was created
• Holographic Collegiate Sticker: Look for the official holographic foil licensing sticker on the bottom of your water bottle - your guarantee that this is officially licensed merchandise approved by your university

Suncatcher Authentication:

• Sandblasted Signature: Our Blenko logo and production year curve gracefully along the back rim of each suncatcher, sandblasted directly into the glass - no stickers needed on these display pieces
• Holographic Collegiate Sticker: The official holographic foil collegiate licensing logo comes attached to the included hang tag, ready to display your suncatcher while confirming its authenticity.

Please Note: Due to seasonal humidity in West Virginia, stickers may occasionally detach during shipping. Rest assured, all authentication stickers are included with your order and can be easily reapplied if needed. This natural occurrence doesn't affect the quality or authenticity of your handcrafted glass piece.

These authentication elements aren't afterthoughts - they're integral parts of each piece, thoughtfully placed to maintain the beauty of your collegiate glass while providing the certification you expect from a genuine Blenko and officially licensed university product.

Hours of Handwork Behind Every Design

When we say hand-etched, we mean it. Each collegiate piece undergoes a meticulous process that transforms smooth glass into personalized art. Our talented on-site glass artist begins by creating precise stencils for each university design - a process that requires both artistic skill and technical precision to ensure every detail translates perfectly to glass.

The sandblasting itself is an art form. Using specialized equipment and years of experience, our artist carefully etches each design into the glass surface, controlling depth and detail to create dimension and clarity. After the blasting, comes the delicate work of removing stencils without disturbing the freshly etched surface. Finally, special fills are applied where needed - white to make letters pop, gold to add richness - each application done by hand and careful attention.

This isn't a five-minute process. Each water bottle requires hours of individual attention. Each suncatcher demands the same meticulous care. It's the difference between a logo slapped on glass and artwork carved into it - between mass production and personal craft.

Want Your Own Custom Design?
Love the quality of our hand-etching but have your own vision? Visit customs.blenko.com - our dedicated portal for creating personalized suncatchers with your own designs, monograms, or messages. Whether it's a family crest, business logo, or personal artwork, our etching artists can bring your vision to life in glass. More custom product offerings are coming soon, expanding the ways you can make Blenko glass uniquely yours.

Why You're Here: The Field Fans + Blenko Collaboration

If you've arrived at Blenko.com from Field Fans, welcome! You've discovered a unique partnership that brings together Field Fans' collegiate licensing expertise with Blenko's 130+ years of American glassmaking tradition.

Field Fans specializes in connecting passionate fans with officially licensed collegiate products, handling the complex world of university partnerships and licensing agreements. Meanwhile, Blenko focuses on what we do best - creating hand-blown, hand-etched glass art in our West Virginia factory.

This collaboration means you can discover these exclusive collegiate pieces through Field Fans' curated collections, then complete your purchase directly with us at Blenko. It's a partnership that ensures you receive authentic, officially licensed university glassware crafted by American hands with the quality that only comes from generations of glassmaking expertise.

Whether you found us through Field Fans or discovered us independently, you're purchasing certified Blenko products that carry both our artisan guarantee and official collegiate licensing approval. Each piece represents the perfect marriage of school pride and American craftsmanship.

Please note: Our partnership with Field Fans is limited to collegiate licensing only. The Blenko Glass Company does not endorse any specific school, political stance, or other products or initiatives offered by Field Fans. Similarly, Field Fans does not endorse or associate with any other Blenko products outside of this collegiate collection.

All items are made to order in small batches. Please allow 6-8 weeks for fulfillment. Free shipping on orders over $99.

Unlike other glass vessels that claim to be "100% handmade" while being mass produced in a factory in China, our glass is TRULY handmade by Appalachian natives from West Virginia on the banks of the Mud River. From start to finish - 100% authentic.

We stand by our products 100% with our Blenko “Love It” guarantee. If you have any issues whatsoever, we'll replace or refund your order, no questions asked!