Trade Guilds in France

Carpenter (Les Charpentiers) Split into 2 subgroups in 1314 the grande cognee (large ax timber workers) and the petite cognee (small ax joiners). Patron saint St. Joseph, celebrated on 3-19, patron saint of journeymen carpenters

Joiners (Les Menuisiers) Affiliated with door makers (huissiers), veneer makers (lambrisseurs), chest makers (huchiers) and specialists in window frames (Chassiers). Apprenticeships lasted 6 years. Saint Anne is the patron saint of the Joiners guild.

Furniture makers guild (ebenistes) first used in 1743

Coopers (Charpentiers en tonneaux) or doleurs (after the doloire, a heavy axe used to cut staves of flasks and barrels) obtained a guild of their own in 1376. Apprenticeship lasted 5 years, John the Baptist is patron saint.

Wood turners (Les Tourneurs sur Bois) were originally members of the carpenter’s guild, but obtained a guild of their own in 1467. 4 year apprenticeship, St. Michael is honored.

Wheelwrights (Les Charrons) and Carrossiers were also long under the authority of the carpenters guild, however obtained their own statutes in 1467. Saint Catherine became patron saint.

Sabot Makers (Les Sabotiers) (sabots wooden shoes worn by peasants). Not accepted as a guild officially until 1850.

Stonecutters (Les Tailleurs de Pierre) (aka espilleurs) were a branch of the masons, sharing their statutes. Apprenticeship lasted 7 years, has several patron saints (Blaise, Peter, Roch, Thomas, Reinhold) Itinerant journeyman (loups-garous).

Roofers (Les Couvrenurs) listed in the 13th c as being under the carpenters, got statutes of their own in the 14th c, apprenticeships at that time lasting 4 years (extending to 6 years in the 18 C). Not allowed to work on rooftops alone until they had 3 years training in a master’s presence. Also known as Chats (cats) or (Coucous) cuckoos. All celebrate the feast day of ascension.

Plaster workers 1703

Locksmiths (Les Serruriers) The Livre des mtiers cites an important law "Make no key without having the lock in front of your eyes"?. Date origins to AD 570.

Glaziers (Les Vitriers) accepted in the beginning of the 18th C.

Farriers (Les Marechaux-Ferrants) under the authority of the First Marshal of the Stables of the King of France; not only shoeing horses but also serving as vets. Recognized in Lyon in 1789.

Workers of Lead and Zinc (Les Pombiers-Zingueurs); subsidiary members of the roofers guild, however gained prominence in the later middle ages. Less demand for their work beginning in the early 16th C.

Makers of Shoes and Boots (Les Cordonniers-Bottiers), 4 year apprenticeship, not recognized by the journeyman world until 1807; however journeymen were mentioned much earlier (ex by the Sorbonne in 1655).