MEDIEVAL GUILDS

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MEDIEVAL GUILDS

• Stained glass windows from the Guild Hall,
  Londonderry, Northern Ireland
• Guild arms from St. Audoens Church Visitors
  Centre, Dublin, Ireland
• All photographs by Eileen Bach, used with
  permission.

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Organization

• Medieval guilds were a fraternity of workers
  based upon a common craft or trade, much like
  trade unions today.
• Guilds set standards for products and provided
  services for members.

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Membership

• Guild members were inducted in a formal ceremony
  that occurred once a year, usually on the feast
  day of the patron saint of the guild.
• Members paid a fee to join the guild.

St. Vincent, patron saint of Vintners http//www.
catholic-forum.com/saints/saintv01.htm
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Apprentices

• Guild members trained one or more apprentices for
  five to nine years, depending on the trade or
  craft.
• Apprentices were provided with room, board and
  training but were not paid.
• Typically, two apprentices overlapped each other
  in service to a guild member.

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Journeymen

• At this intermediate stage between apprentice and
  master of the craft, journeymen were paid for
  their work.
• The journeyman worked on a masterpiece to present
  to the guild as evidence of craftsmanship suited
  to guild membership.

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Master Craftsman

• A master craftsman set up his own workshop and
  abided by guild regulations, including
• No work by candlelight
• Participation in guild plays
• Set fees for goods and services
• Why is each of these regulations beneficial to
  guild members?

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Benefits of guild membership

• Schools
• Elder care
• Bonuses
• Social network
• Plays
• Feasts
• Livery

G. Woolliscroft Rhead Man in medieval livery with
slashed sleeves holding mace http//www.davidrumse
y.com/amica/amico88762-94015.html
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Guild Coats of Arms

• What does having a coat of arms tell us about the
  status of guilds and guild members?

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Symbolism in Guild Arms

• Early guilds arose from religious fraternities
  that used the church as a meeting hall.
• Many of the guild symbols have religious
  significance.

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Symbolism in Guild Arms, continued

• After the Reformation, many of the religious
  symbols were replaced by emblems of the craft
  itself.
• What craft emblems can you identify here?

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Animal imagery

• The use of a heraldic lion signifies royal
  patronage.
• The use of ermine in a crest also indicates
  royal prestige since only royalty was allowed to
  wear ermine fur, according to sumptuary laws.

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Guild Identification includes

• Coat of arms
• Craft emblems
• Motto
• Patron saint
• Induction day
• Play
• Livery colors

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Use your powers of reason

• We have only partial information for many guilds.
• Examine the following guild symbols and speculate
  regarding the information presented.
• Ask yourself
• What might each image represent?
• What colors predominate?
• Which guilds might join forces, as some did?

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