John Shelton has studied early American glass firsthand in the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation’s Department of Collections and at the Corning Museum of Glass in New York. Throughout his nearly 40 years as a master glassblower, he has worked with many collectors and notable authorities on the subject of historical blown glass, such as Ivor Noel Hume, retired chief archaeologist at Colonial Williamsburg.
While most glass studios today buy pre-mixed, pelletized batch or re-melt someone else’s glass, Shelton makes his glass from the basic elements of sand, soda ash, and lime. The extra effort and expense makes his work more authentic to the colonial process. He also uses tools hand fashioned after ones used by colonial glassblowers.
He has produced in excess of 500,000 pieces of glass, each hand-blown and original.
Shelton Glass Works 4512 The Foxes Williamsburg, VA 23188 Phone: 757-345-9892 or 757-253-1273 Email: sheltonglass@yahoo.com
John W. Shelton has been selected for the following Directories:
2020 GLASS
2019 GLASS
2018 GLASS
2017 GLASS
2016 GLASS
2015 GLASS
2014 GLASS
2013 GLASS
2011 GLASS
2010 GLASS
2009 GLASS
2008 GLASS
2007 GLASS
Biography updated October 3, 2016 Photograph updated October 3, 2016Contact information updated April 17, 2017
Artisans wishing to participate in the 2021 Directory of Traditional American Crafts™ may download applications by clicking here. Because of the uncertainty of mail delivery caused by the Pandemic, we have extended the deadline for entries. We will accept entries postmarked by February 15, 2021. Those selected will be notified after judging in April, 2021. The 2021 Directory of Traditional American Crafts™ will appear in the August 2021 issue of Early American Life.
1,994 days until America's Sestercentennial
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BACKGROUND
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