Marisia - Maros Megyei Múzeum Évkönyve 29/2. (2009)
Cultură materială
The signatories of this document from Sibiu from 1764 are three masters (Valentin Sontag, Martin Schirmes, and Michael Zacharias) and three journeymen (Johann Adam Walther from Sibiu, Christoph Walther Wiehl from Schwäbäsch, and Johann Sproge Hermann from Wilfdorff auf Schlesien). The fact that the last two journeymen came from the area of the German states reveals the importance of Sibiu as a crafts center in the eighteenth century as well as its relevance as a destination for the journeymen in the process of learning their craft. The Confraternity of journeymen The Confraternity was an organization of journeymen aiming at mutual help and the protection of their common interests. Membership in the organization was volunteer-based, but it involved the payment of a fee. Furthermore, it was subordinated to the mother-guild. The statutes of the saddlers' Confraternity in Sibiu established rules pertaining to the admission of journeymen, the behavior of its members in the guild, the town, public areas, and the church, as well as pertaining to mutual help under various circumstances. Admission in the Confraternity was made after the journeyman's admission into the guild and the approval of its leaders. In order to become a member of the guild, the candidate had to prove his belonging to the German ethnic group and the Christian faith, by presenting his birth certificate and release letter, as well as that he had never worked for a cobbler.14 Apprentices had to meet the same requirements, but their parents also had to prove their free status, meaning that they did not belong to the social category of serfs.15 Full membership happened after journeymen had paid all the fees, which amounted to two Kreutzer for those from Sibiu and four Kreutzer for those born outside the town, in case they found work.16 Throughout the work period, journeymen had to execute certain works according to their position: A journeyman shall make ten German saddletrees and fifteen Kashubian saddletrees observantly and diligently, for which he shall first pay a tax of 1 Florin and 80 Kreutzer, and before cutting down a load of wood, he shall pay double, that is 3 Florins and 60 Kreutzer. Then, a journeyman shall make three thick saddles and 14 Copia der Hermannstädter Sattlerzunft Articul, Article \, sheet 111. is Ibid. Article 9, sheet 112/v-113. 16 Copia der Hermannstädter Sattlerzunft Articul, Article 16, sheet 114/v; Articul einer ehrsamen Sattler Gesellenbruderschaft, 1764, at the National Archives, The Sibiu County Directorate, fond ZU 1433, Article 6, sheet 3/v (further: Articul einer...). 103 _Etnografie____
