Les Orfèvres de Sant’Aponal et de Santa Croce de Venise au XVII e siècle: dynamiques économiques entre centre et périphérie

Abstract

The study of goldsmiths in two venetian parishes, one central and the othe peripherical, Sant’Aponal and Santa Croce, reveals some interesting dynamics. We observe that production tend to separate from sales structures, traditionally located around the Rialto bridge. Many goldsmiths settle un the outlying parish of santa Croce, where they work at home or in laboratory. They are newcomers to the profession, and some of them are recent immigrants. Hastily trained, they practised general goldsmithing, supervised by members of great Venetian goldsmithing dynasties. Many of them worked illegaly, without being registred with the guild. There careers are subject to numerous reversals. This way marked a new traend in craftmanship in Venice in the last centuries of the Republic and show the way for the pre-industrial period.