German Craft Culture in Saint Petersburg: Characteristics of Development in the First Half of the 19th Century

Abstract

The handicraft industry remained an integral part of the mixed economy of the Russian Empire. Foreign artisans, primarily those of German descent, played a significant role in the capital cities from the 18th century onward. Most of these craftsmen relocated to Russia in response to an invitation from the Tsarist government. Around the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries, German artisans began forming professional communities (workshops) in St. Petersburg, falling under the jurisdiction of the German Craft Council. Initially, they were exempt from compulsory registration with the workshops and the payment of state and other taxes. The homogenization policy adopted by Emperor Nicholas I contributed to the formal integration of German craftsmen into the urban economy, gradually diminishing the existing disparities between them and Russian artisans. This research aims to examine the characteristics of life and work of German artisans in St. Petersburg during the first half of the 19th century. It places particular emphasis on the analysis of the evolution of their legal status, as well as the evaluation of their professional, demographic, and social development. Special attention is paid to the practices of both vertical and horizontal mobility. The foundation of this study rests on published statutes, regulations, and archival materials from the collections of the State Archive of the Russian Federation and the Central State Historical Archive of St. Petersburg. Many of these materials are being introduced into scientific discourse for the first time. The article is intended for specialists studying ethnic and professional groups within the urban population of the Russian Empire.

Keywords

• german craft council
• german workshop
• craftsman
• fellow craft
• baker
• workshop charter
• workshop rituals
• social mobility
• identity
• st. petersburg