Birth and Baptism Certificate 1814

This birth and baptism certificate was made in 1820 by Heinrich Ebner, likely for a Pennsylvania Dutch family. It's printed on paper and then hand-colored, using simple, direct imagery. The image combines religious symbolism – angels, a baby emerging from a shell – with patriotic motifs like the American eagle. The design shows the strong influence of printing. Note how the text is surrounded by a frame. Yet the inconsistent coloring is a sign of hand-production. The combination is typical of Fraktur, a tradition of decorative folk art common in German-speaking communities of early America. This certificate shows the intersection of industrial production and handcraft. The print provided a template, but the addition of color made each example unique. It speaks to a community seeking both cultural identity and participation in the wider economy. The object is valued not only for its religious and personal significance, but also as a testament to human labor.