Membership Certificate, Society of Journeymen Cabinet-Makers
August 2, 1796
Classification
archive
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Cooper Union Library
Accession Number
1953-10-80
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Step into the early days of American labor history with this rare *Membership Certificate* from the of Journeymen Cabinet-Makers, August 2, 1796. Issued to a skilled woodworker— a "journeyman" who completed apprenticeship but not yet mastered their craft—this document represents one of the nation's first trade societies. In the wake of the American Revolution, cities like Philadelphia and New York boomed, cabinet-makers crafted fine furniture essential to a new republic's domestic life, blending European traditions with emerging American styles. Though the artist and medium remain unknown, su...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...