Masonic Apron, ca. 1797 Probably Baltimore, Maryland Special Acquisitions Fund, 84.79.1

Although Freemasons rely on a long-established constellation of symbols to teach the principles of their order, their regalia and furnishings are influenced by changing trends in fashion. The spare decoration and curved bottom edge of this apron echoes some of the shield and urn shapes popular in furniture and other decorative arts during the late 1700s and early 1800s. A Baltimore Mason named Samuel Arnold is thought to have owned this apron.