The early labour movement banners had a symbol on the top of the bannerpole. The social-democratic banners sometimes used the goddess of freedom, especially the women organisations. The trade unions did show a symbol for their work like these joiners and modelmakers that shows a saw.
Sometimes the top emblem was constructed of the members but it could also be made by a specialist. In the 1880s they were often cut in wood. Later on they were often forged or founded. They were very heavy and could be up to half a metre in size.
These small symbols for the work very often are real miniature art. The shoemakers used a shoe or boot, the carpenters different tools, the butchers a knife and an axe and so on. Nowadays there are usually the same top emblem for all unions in the same national amalgamated trade union.
In the banner storehouse in Grängesberg the Institute stores 300 top emblems.
