John Frederick Amelung

Sugar bowl from a child's tea set, Los Angeles County Museum of Art

John Frederick Amelung (c. 1741–1798) was a German-American glass artist active in Maryland.

Biography

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He was born in the free city of Bremen in either 1741 or 1742. A glassmaker by trade, Amelung immigrated to Baltimore, Maryland in 1784.[1] In Maryland, he became the founder of the New Bremen Glass manufactory. The company had the support of people like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin.[citation needed]

The business produced decorative glass similar to Stiegel glass from 1784 to about 1795. Some of the glass products contained engraved decorative ornaments in the German style.[citation needed] The company made detailed pieces including works for the brother of Maryland's first governor, Thomas Johnson.[1] His business was successful, benefiting from the young American nation's desire for economic independence from Great Britain.[2] The factory suffered a fire to part of its complex during its first decade in business. A loan request for expansion was denied in 1790.[3]

Amelung died in Maryland in 1798.[2]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Frederick County Decorative Arts". Heritage Frederick – The Historical Society of Frederick County. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
  2. ^ a b "New Bremen Glass Goblet". www.metmuseum.org. Retrieved 2019-09-29.
  3. ^ John Frederick Amelung in the Merriam-Webster