Guild Organisation of the Building Crafts in Bohemia - the Transfer of Statutes and Migration of Italian Craftsmen
Abstract
The study devoted to the issue of migration and transfer in the field of guild crafts, primarily construction, is based on an analysis of guild statutes and is focused on the activities of Italian builders (bricklayers and stonemasons) in Bohemia. Two forms of guild orders are typical for construction crafts – an original order and one taken over on the basis of a branch of domestic origin. For some statutes, it is possible to assume the direct involvement of prominent builders in their creation, mainly on the basis of articles concerning master’s examinations.
Italian builders came to Bohemia in the 15th century and from the middle of the 16th century began to settle not only in Prague but also in the countryside. Gradually, they were joined by other members of their families, often also bricklayers and stonemasons. Many established themselves not only within their profession, but some also succeeded in rising to the upper middle classes, taking seats on the city council. While in the first decades of the 18th century their occurrence in sources is relatively frequent, their numbers began to decline before the middle of the 18th century. It can be assumed that they gradually became established in other professions as well.