Our Company's History
Washington Art Glass Studio was founded in
1924 by my grandfather, Leonard Boertlein. Leonard was a young German immigrant,
from a small town outside of Munich who made his way through Ellis Island just
after the turn of the century. He settled in Pennsylvania, where he
spent 12 years honing his skills with several different
studios. In
1923 he moved to Washington, D.C.
Shortly thereafter he opened the doors of Washington Art Glass Studio, our small
family-run studio thrived, producing both beautiful and functional glasswork.
Soon Leonard's son, my father,
John, began work at the studio. He trained
under the watchful eyes of his father, learning the intricacies of the craft and
brining his own creative stamp to his work. They
continued to work side by side until my grandfather’s death
in 1956. I am proud to carry on our family's trade. I have always been in love with the beauty of my family’s craft,
and I spent many hours after school and over my summer breaks working with my
father at our studio. In 1977, after graduating from high school, I went to
work with my father full time, attending college at night.
We continue to work together today, Washington
Art Glass Studio is still a family owned and run shop. Because we are a relatively small studio, we can give our clients the personal
attention they deserve. Over the years we have worked in hundreds of Washington
churches, synagogues, museums, the United States Capitol and many homes and
restaurants in the area.
As our reputation for beautiful, quality glasswork has grown, our client list
has expanded. Over the last twenty years we have accepted commissions from around the
country. We enjoy our work and believe our clients receive a part of our
family's history with every window we produce. We strive for perfection and uphold the
highest standards of our craft, which has been passed down through the
generations. I have high hopes that a fourth generation of craftsmen will arise
from my family so the history of our studio will continue.
For More Information Contact:
Washington Art Glass
6618 Walker Mill Road
Tel: 301-735-6292
FAX: 301-735-6292
Email:
washartglass@comcast.net
