THE CHARM OF OLD CRAFTS IN KREMNICA

GOLDSMITHS

Kremnica

The rich deposits of precious metals, the wealth of the burghers and the presence of the mint created the prerequisite for the origin and flourishing of gold smiting craft. This was one of the most decorative crafts. The goldsmiths made sacred objects from gold and silver: chalices, monstrances, reliquaries and secular objects, table ware, cups, goblets, containers, dishes, plates, cutlery, salt shakers, candle stick holders and various types of jewelry; buckles, chains, rings, buttons, headbands. The guilds were also special customers, since the goldsmiths made their seals, signet rings, cups and cups with lids.

The basic techniques were forging, beating, engraving, filigree, enamel, and from the 19th century, also casting. The equipment of a workshop was relatively simple, and consisted of a worktable with leather drapery to catch falling fragments of gold and silver, and a shelf for tools. The tools of the goldsmith were the hatchet, stamping tool, graver, knife, hammer, saw and pliers. The goldsmith attested his finished products with his master's mark (derived from his initials), which guaranteed maintenance of the purity of the metal and the quality of the work, and with the guild mark, which used the town shield.

The surviving statutes of the Kremnica goldsmiths date from 1601, when the statutes were renewed. Therefore, the guild must have existed much earlier. We already meet with goldsmiths at Kremnica in the 14th century, when some of them lived on the Town Square, were members of the town council, and a certain Jan Goldner became mayor. In the 15th century (according to the tax roll from 1442-43), 9 goldsmiths worked in the town. In 1499-1500, the goldsmith Jeroným made a crosier for a bishop.

Apart from the Kremnica burghers the goldsmiths made pieces for other people. In 1571, Matej Tarnovsky, a burgher of Trnava, had two goblets of gilded silver and coconut made by a Kremnica, goldsmith. He paid 36 gulden and 88 denars; for the silver, 22 gulden and 50 denars for the gilding and 14 gulden and 75 denars for the work.

Due to the fact that the state treasury had to reserve precious metals for the striking of coins, a maximum number of goldsmiths was introduced in 1747, and had to be respected. In 1777, 4 goldsmiths and one journeyman worked in the town.

Their wares-the chalice or goblet, symbolized the guild of goldsmiths. They chose St. Gilles as their patron saint.

GO BACK TO OLD CRAFTS

Reprinted from: The Charm of Old Crafts, PhDr. Ludmila Nemeskurthiova
Published by © National Bank of Slovakia-Museum of Coins and Medals Kremnica 1998
Published in the Slovak Heritage Live newsletter Volume 7, No. 3, Fall 1999 
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