Social reproduction and artisans. Tailors, tanners, and joiners of Madrid in the 17th century

Abstract

Rules were a part of the collection of social, economic and legal means and resources that artisans used to successfully face different historic junctures with more versatility and success than was once thought. The study of the different guilds that were present in 17th century Madrid through the comparative analysis of tailors, tanners and joiners focuses on three main aspects which determine the strategies used by artisans in order to adapt to historical context and to respond to social change: economic conditions of trades, their social behaviour and the internal dynamics followed by each one. In fact, many trades had a remarkable regulatory framework used to apply a restrictive policy for obtaining mastership. Nevertheless, the thorough study of their internal dynamics −renewal and continuity of members and families, social practices and mobility− proved that trades made moderate use of corporative measures −exams, apprenticeship, production limitations and, exclusion of women− to make it difficult for outsiders to join. The trajectories that were followed by the three trades prove that artisans were not a particularly homogenous group and question the commonly accepted thesis that guilds were an inbred professional collective.