|
A
blacksmith at work |
| calitri
tradizioni |
| An
artisan’s life was difficult and economically not very rewarding
because, to a certain extent, it was conditioned by the precarious
situation of his customers, mostly peasants, who were at the same
time his chronic debtors. |
| Artisans
got paid in cash or in kind, but they had to wait till August to
collect, the month in which the farmers made delayed payments for
goods and services acquired during the whole year. |
| However,
if there had been a poor harvest, and a farmer was forced to pay
part of his other debts, he would put off paying his bills until
August of the following year. Thus, a farmer’s inability to
pay had a decisive effect on all his creditors, who in turn had
to tighten their belts. |
| For
this reason artisans often had to resort to work in the fields in
order to supplement the poor income from their professional activities. |
| In
Calitri, artisans typically engaged in such traditional occupations
as ceramics and weaving. |
| These
crafts often were passed on from father to son, a tradition reflected
in the old saw: “a father’s trade is already half learned
(by the son)”. |
| The
relationship between a master and his apprentice was governed by
the strictest principles. |
| Whether
he was dealing with his son, a relative or a stranger, a master
was bound to treat all equally without discrimination, and the apprentices
were to serve as good examples for others. |
| The
master set the time for starting work and the time to stop. |
|
