Stonemason
SteinmetzScalpellino
Skilled craftsman who works with stone for construction purposes. Stonemasons were essential workers in historical building projects, responsible for cutting, shaping, and laying stones for walls, arches, and decorative elements.
Stonemasons played a crucial role in the construction of European court residences during the 17th and 18th centuries. Their expertise encompassed various techniques including quarrying, cutting, carving, and laying stone.
The craft required extensive training and apprenticeship, often lasting several years. Master stonemasons were highly respected members of the building trades, commanding higher wages than common laborers.
Historical records from Hampton Court indicate that stonemasons earned less than carpenters in 1704, though both trades were essential to major construction projects. The work involved close collaboration with other craftsmen including carvers, plasterers, and ironworkers.
Stonemasons at work on a historical building project.
Source document
No source document.
Hampton Court · 1704
Variations by country
SteinmetzGermany
Koblenz, Bundesarchiv
cart 333, doc 549, linie 34
"Der Konig hat die steinmetzer viel geld gegeben"
Date: 1620-1629
Co-occurrence
Stein (Stone)
77%
Schloss (Castle)
44%
Bauen (Building)
16%
Wasser (Water)
3%
ScalpellinoItaly
Turin, Archivio di Stato di Torino
cart 202, foglio 344, riga 105
"Si eccettua infine la mansione propria dello scalpellino"
Date: 1600-1699
Co-occurrence
Corporazione (Guild)
66%
statua (Statue)
45%
impalcatura (Scaffolding)
23%
scalpello (Chisel)
23%