[6b] The Workshop in the Middle Ages The master builder (or architect) was assisted by a master stone mason or Parler / parlier who prepared the crafts- men‘s work by making drawings and templates. Stonema- sons made up the main group of workers on the...
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[6b] The Workshop in the Middle Ages The master builder (or architect) was assisted by a master stone mason or Parler / parlier who prepared the crafts- men‘s work by making drawings and templates. Stonema- sons made up the main group of workers on the Cathedral building site. The accounts from that period record only their numbers, their weekly wages and the sums paid. In contrast to other medieval construction sites, their names are not mentioned. This anonymity can be explained by the remu- neration system practised in Strasbourg: craftsmen were paid by the day (time wages system) and not for the number of ‘pieces’ produced (‘piece rate’ system). All received an identical basic wage, supplemented by bonuses, depending on their specialization. Master masons, responsible for layouts and drawings, as well as ornamental sculptors, responsible for plant decorations, were better paid. The size of the workforce varied considerably, depending on the season and the progress of the work. In 1
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