Trade Guilds in France

Makers of Harnesses, Saddles and Bridles (Les Bourreliers-Selliers-Harnacheurs); own statutes in the 13th C; the Livre des mtiers specifics that apprenticeships were to last 4 years.

Basket Makers (Les Vanniers) Earliest known statutes date from the 15th C; not a long apprenticeship, 3 years. Saint Anthony.

Rope Makers (Les Cordiers); by 1268 the ropemakers had their own statutes; apprenticeship of 4 years. In return for supplying hemp rope for the execution of the king's justice, ropemakers were exempt from paying taxes.

Dyers (Les Teinturiers) Very powerful in the middle ages, first received as journeymen in 1330, however there is no documentation to support this claim. Journeyman dyers wore, in addition to their colors, a symbolic rectangular apron made of crimson wool, with the common and symbolic names of the dyer embroidered upon the apron with the device "God protect journeymen of the devoir"?. As another feature specific to journeymen dyers, a great many of them were received in Lyon, their craft's mother city, on the Tour de France.

Leather Bleachers and Dressers (Les Blanchers-Chamoiseurs) bleached the skins of sheep and goats to make supple the kidskin or chamois used to make gloves, chamoiseurs treated the chamois after it had been tanned with oil. Leather dressers received as journeymen in 1370 in the city of Orleans, joined with bleachers in 1500.

Weavers and Cloth Makers (Les Tisseurs Ferrandiniers) Obtained their own guild statutes in the 15th C, apprenticeship lasted 5 years. (Ferrandieriers from a cloth invented in the 17thC).

Hatters (Les Chapeliers) Craft accepted into the compagnonnage in 1410

Bakers (Les Boulangers) Called this name in the beginning of the 16th c

Pastry Chefs; (les Patissiers); obtained guild statutes in 1440, and became know as pastissiers; must prove mastery of various aspects of the profession.

Cooks (les cuisiniers) Originally coquinarii (those who cook and sell boiled and roast meat)

Compannonnage means literally journeyman, the journeyman world

Most women did not have an occupation other than housewife or household servant. This does not mean that they were unskilled or that they did no work. Most women would be skilled in many of the occupations listed above.