Mining the Museum: ‘Cabinetmaking, 1820-1960’

Description

The image depicts works on display in "Mining the Museum," a 1992-1993 installation by artist Fred Wilson at the Maryland Historical Society. In Mining the Museum, Wilson used the museum's collections to confront and challenge perceptions about history, culture, and race. It was a joint exhibition with The Contemporary in Baltimore. The items on display in this image include an armchair of wood, mother of pearl, and brocade by an unknown maker (probably Baltimore), circa 1896; an armchair of rosewood made by J. H. Belter, New York, circa 1855; a side chair with logo of Baltimore Equitable Society made of poplar, paint, and gilding in Baltimore, circa 1820-1840; a side chair made of walnut in the United States (possibly Baltimore), circa 1840-1860; and a whipping post comprising a wooden platform and post gifted by the Baltimore City Jail Board (63.93.1).