Crafts and Craftwork in Medieval Europe
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Abstract
This entry examines crafts and craftwork in Medieval Europe. Through an analysis of craftwork associations, craftspeople and craftworks in medieval Europe, it seeks to explore their growth and complexity reflecting on the explosion of urban centres, an emergence of a commercial society and mass production, diversification and usage of objects from the everyday to the luxurious from the year 1000 onwards. It begins by reflecting on urban guilds, associations of craftspeople who oversaw the various stages of craftwork production, examining their structures, hierarchies and memberships to think about their responses to social, cultural and economic conditions. From guilds, the entry turns to focus on the variety of craftspeoples in Medieval Europe. Here the benefits of guild membership, commercial, spiritual and social are explored, as well as the importance of maintaining product integrity, quality and the management of risk. Finally, craftwork itself is examined, to reflect on the multiple processes and local-global networks behind objects, dispelling notions of one master at work and demonstrating the multiple uses, interpretations and ambiguities of craftworks.Citation
Wilson, K. A. (2023 - forthcoming). Crafts and craftwork in Medieval Europe. In Environment, Production and Exchange 1150-1550, The Routledge Medieval Encyclopedia. Routledge.Publisher
RoutledgeAdditional Links
https://www.routledge.com/Routledge-Revivals-Routledge-Encyclopedias-of-the-Middle-Ages/book-series/RREMAType
Book chapterDescription
This is an Accepted Manuscript of a book chapter published by Routledge/CRC Press in [BOOK TITLE] on [date of publication], available online: http://www.routledge.com/[BOOK ISBN URL] or "http://www.crcpress.com/[BOOK ISBN URL]Collections
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