18th-Century Cabinetmaking at Colonial Williamsburg

In the Anthony Hay Cabinet Shop, Master Cabinet Maker Bill Pavlak, along with journeymen and apprentices are able to focus on the lesser-known stories of skilled artisans, both free workers and the enslaved, who shaped these timeless pieces and whose expert craftsmanship continues to influence our cultural heritage today. The craftsmen speak to us down through history. Proper reading of often-hidden tool marks and informed analysis of surviving 18th century furniture, helps reveal the lesser-known stories of the apprentices and enslaved people that often worked in these shops. The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 educational institution and the largest U.S. history museum in the world.