John Frederick Amelung (c. 1741–1798) was a
German-
American
American(s) may refer to:
* American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America"
** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America
** American ancestry, pe ...
glass artist active in
Maryland.
Biography
He was born in the
free city Free city may refer to: Historical places
* Free city (antiquity) a self-governed city during the Hellenistic and Roman Imperial eras
* Free imperial city, self-governed city in the Holy Roman Empire subordinate only to the emperor
** Free City of ...
of
Bremen
Bremen (Low German also: ''Breem'' or ''Bräm''), officially the City Municipality of Bremen (german: Stadtgemeinde Bremen, ), is the capital of the German state Free Hanseatic City of Bremen (''Freie Hansestadt Bremen''), a two-city-state consis ...
in either 1741 or 1742. A glassmaker by trade, Amelung immigrated to
Baltimore
Baltimore ( , locally: or ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland, fourth most populous city in the Mid-Atlantic, and the 30th most populous city in the United States with a population of 585,708 in 2020. Baltimore was d ...
,
Maryland in 1784.
In Maryland, he became the founder of the
New Bremen Glass manufactory. The company had the support of people like
George Washington
George Washington (February 22, 1732, 1799) was an American military officer, statesman, and Founding Father who served as the first president of the United States from 1789 to 1797. Appointed by the Continental Congress as commander of th ...
,
Thomas Jefferson, and
Benjamin Franklin.
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. The company made detailed pieces including works for the brother of Maryland's first governor, Thomas Johnson.
His business was successful, benefiting from the young American nation's desire for economic independence from
Great Britain.
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.
[John Frederick Amelung](_blank)
in the Merriam-Webster
Merriam-Webster, Inc. is an American company that publishes reference books and is especially known for its dictionaries. It is the oldest dictionary publisher in the United States.
In 1831, George and Charles Merriam founded the company as ...
Amelung died in Maryland in 1798.
See also
*
18th century glassmaking in the United States
References
John Frederick Amelungon
Metropolitan Museum of Art website
1740s births
1798 deaths
German glass artists
Artists from Maryland
Artists from Bremen (city)
Emigrants from the Holy Roman Empire
German emigrants to the United States
American glass artists
{{US-artist-stub