Important parchment document from Vienna 1416
„Item da man zalt von Christi geburt vierzehenhunder jar dar nach in dem sechzehenden jar Deß Suntags nach dem heyligen Büssertag haben wir maister gemeinlich zu wienn und dfie geselln die sich dar zu gesambt habent In den Jarmarckt ze wyenn Durch der Ordnung und gehorsam willen her nach an dem brif geschriben stet gemacht habent. Item das ein yeder maister nicht mer lerknecht sol haben wenn ainen und den selben einen lerknechjt sol er dingen vir gantze jar und nicht chuertzer. Lenger mag er In wol dingen er geb im gelt oder mehr…“ – Item der briff ist der mayster und der geselln des hanntwercks der Ircher und auch weyss gerber“.
Brown ink on smoothed parchment with stylized initial "I" over 17 lines. 24 lines, 210 x 280 mm.
Beautiful, informative document from the White Tanners' Guild (Ircher is a term used for white tanners in Bavaria, Salzburg and Upper Austria). It reports on the wages and the duration of the apprenticeship. From line 14 the names of the 24 masters are listed, from line 19 those of the 21 journeymen, including an Ulrich von Sankt Pölten, Andreas Piber, Hanns List, Andre Suchentrunkh, Peter Füchsel, Niclas Wambaysser, Ulrich Stifter, Armandel Stubenrauch, Stepphan Pyber, Thomas Ostermann, Michel Weyding, Michel Hoffmayster etc.
Extraordinarily early document concerning the craft of white tanning. Although they were used by all classes, they were not popular in the city centers, as the tanning process (using salt and alum) produced toxic waste water and also caused quite an odor nuisance. For this reason, they were almost always found outside the cities and near flowing waters. In Vienna, this was in the Weißgerber district on the Danube Canal, which is still named after them today.
The Vienna City and Provincial Archives have several documents relating to the white tanning trade, but the earliest document dates back to 1536. Our document is therefore exactly 120 years earlier and is probably the earliest document relating to this trade in the Vienna area.
Four faint creases, probably slightly cut in the upper margin, otherwise in exceptionally good condition. Newly framed.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
