What is a Master Craftsman or Woodworker?
Interesting Question… Some people at rec.woodworking had this to say about it: Frank McVey posted: Your last couple of correspondents mentioned Trade Guilds in Europe. In the past, a young lad was apprenticed to a Master. Having served his apprenticeship he did a test piece which incorporated as many of the skills he had learned as possible, to demonstrate his ability to the Trade Guild and to future employers. We have a tradition in UK of such apprentices making large toolboxes of fine timbers with beautifully veneered and inlaid surfaces, superbly fitted out with drawers, sliding tool wells etc, even secret compartments. This was his “apprentice piece”. He then worked as a journeyman – a fully qualified tradesman for a number of years until he had developed his skill enough to create his “Master Piece”, which was assessed by his peers in the Trade Guild, before he could call himself a Master, after which he could form his own workshop and train apprentices himself. Nowadays, with t
