THE CHARM OF OLD CRAFTS IN KREMNICA

BAKERS

Kremnica

After butchery, baking was the second most important food production craft. The products of the bakers were bread, pretzel, rolls, and buns. Bakers had to observe precise technical specifications. They began by sieving the flour, preparing the yeast (obtained from dry bread or dough), and preparing the dough. Rising, shaping and finally baking followed. When making bread, the baker mixed yeast with water and flour in the evening. The next day he added more flour and water. Most frequently used was wheat-flour, only black bread was baked from rye. For baking biscuits, flour, milk, butter, eggs, yeast, sugar, salt, spice, almonds, dried grapes and nuts were used. The bakers and the quality of their Cadres were strictly supervised. Care was taken to ensure that only good quality bread was made according to the prescribed weight.

The Kremnica bakers founded their guild in 1554 and borrowed its statutes from Olomouc. We assume, on the basis of the tax roll of burghers from 1442-43, that they already had a guild in the 15th century. The roll states that bakers paid tax as part of a guild. In this period, 7 bakers worked at Kremnica. The bakers were also included among the honored burghers. In 1342, Jan Pistricis was a member of the town council.

The bakers also had a place assigned to the sale of bread. As in the case of the butchers, this consisted of benches. Every day a master inspected the bread and buns. When they found bread somewhat burnt, or not of the prescribed weight, they broke it, and the master was punished. Old bread could be sold only on specific days (Wednesdays and Saturdays), and it had to be kept separate from the fresh bread on the benches.

During important visits, the bakers offered their wares for the special occasions. For example, on the occasion of the visit of the Emperor Francis of Lorraine in 1754, they supplied special white buns for his table and medium loaves for the servants. In 1777, four bakers and three journeymen worked in the town.

The bakers chose their wares-a loaf of bread, a bun, and a pretzel - as their emblem. The patron of the guild was St. Elizabeth.

GO BACK TO OLD CRAFTS

Reprinted from: The Charm of Old Crafts, PhDr. Ludmila Nemeskurthiova
Published by © National Bank of Slovakia-Museum of Coins and Medals Kremnica 1998
Published in the Slovak Heritage Live newsletter Volume 7, No. 2, Summer 1999 
3804 Yale Street, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada V5C 1P6
The above article and photographs may not be copied, reproduced, republished, or redistributed by any means including electronic, without the express written permission of Vladimir Linder. All rights reserved.