17
The Guilds
"Craftsmanship is a golden bracelet"
Dear traveler, let’s journey into another fragment of medieval history, one that resonates to this day. We will explore facts and stories about guilds.
Guilds were professional and regulatory organizations for trades in medieval Europe, continuing into the early modern period. They were made up of skilled craftsmen in specific trades, like carpentry, pottery, tailoring, wheelwrighting, and weaving. Guild members set quality standards, prices, and practices for their trade and oversaw apprenticeships and professional qualifications.
Each guild was led by two or more leaders called "staroste" (elder), who were elected annually by the guild members. Guilds had their own regulations and statutes and were committed to protecting their members by ensuring a basic standard of living and defending against unfair competition. They played a critical role in maintaining the quality of goods and services in the community, and often served religious or charitable functions. Each guild had a special chest to store important documents: a seal, statutes, a registry of contributions and debts.
Guilds had their own flag bearing distinctive symbols of their craft. Each guild was also responsible for maintaining a specific bastion within the town’s fortifications. Inside churches, they had flags and designated pews marked with their craft symbols. Find them here in Biertan if you didn’t already.
Joining a guild was not easy. First, an aspirant had to apprentice under a master craftsman. Those not from a craft family left their parents and were taken under the master's care for a set time. In this new “family,” apprentices spent two to four years assisting in the workshop and learning specific skills. The master served as a father figure, and the apprentice owed him respect and diligent work.
Once the apprenticeship period ended, the young person became a journeyman and was formally accepted into the group of journeymen through a specific ceremony. Like a wedding, the journeyman would choose godparents and offer a lavish meal for all guild members. The journeyman period lasted another two to four years.
Finally, the young person had to pass a master’s exam by independently creating a complex item from start to finish, proving readiness to join the guild. Upon acceptance, the new master took an oath before the judge, pledging to uphold guild rules and contribute to the town's welfare.
Each craft had a patron saint, and the saint’s day was celebrated as the guild's holiday.
Beyond their economic and social functions, guilds fostered identity and social cohesion within urban and rural communities, and they were often involved in local events and festivities. However, as society and economy evolved during the early modern period, the role and influence of guilds began to decline, with many being dissolved or reformed in later centuries.
At its peak, Biertan had 19 guilds and 25 crafts.
In Sibiu, the Guildsmen’s House has reopened, where journeymen from various trades come from across Europe to practice their skills, contribute to city life, and help restore historic buildings in the town center. You’re welcome to visit if you’d like to experience the ancient atmosphere of medieval guilds.
One last interesting detail: in front of the guilds’ house stands the Guild Tree or Journeymen’s Post, also known as "Baum der Zünfte" or "Stock-im-Eisen." It was an essential symbol of organization and communal unity within medieval and early modern guilds, often placed in the central square or near the guild house, serving as a focal point for guild activities and ceremonies.
Travelling journeymen would hammer in a nail—often a decorative one—before leaving a place. This would produce a sort of archive or register of craftsmen who passed this place and it was said to bring good fortune.
Text by Alexandra Mihailciuc, documented and written as part of the 2024 Heritage Lab workshop. The audio guide is a project of the Designers, Thinkers, Makers Association and the Biertan Town Hall in the Culture & Cultures: Connecting the dots project, co-financed by the National Cultural Fund Administration.
Tur audio realizat în cadrul proiectului Culture&Cultures. Connecting the dots în anul 2024.
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Proiectul nu reprezintă în mod necesar poziția Administrației Fondului Cultural Național. AFCN nu este responsabilă de conținutul proiectului sau de modul în care rezultatele proiectului pot fi folosite. Acestea sunt în întregime responsabilitatea beneficiarului finanțării.
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