Stamp piston

Sources focused on the history of crafts and craftsmanship in Pomerania teach us that shoemakers' guilds were among the oldest craftsmen organisations, established even in the 14th century. What is more, they used their own seals from the very beginning. This extremely interesting seal stamp of the shoemakers’ guild from Białogard dates back to 1799. The attributes of shoemakers include shoes and sets of various kinds of shoes. In the case of this particular seal, it is a heeled riding boot, with a tall upper and a spur that takes up a small part of the stamp area. One element that particularly stands out is a two-headed eagle sitting on the edge of the upper. The eagle is often depicted on Pomeranian guild seals, which is related to Prussian-Brandenburg heraldry. It is a manifestation of the guilds' connection with the state. The figure of the two-headed eagle does not stem from the local tradition. Interestingly, the eagle appears only on the seals of the shoemakers' guilds. It is clearly associated with imperial heraldry – in the case of the Pomeranian seals, it was probably used only as an imitation, based on the seals of Silesian guilds, rather than as a conscious manifestation of the links between Pomerania and the Reich. Another interesting motif on the stamp are rose branches. While the two-headed eagle can be treated as an embellishment, the rose flowers, which are a symbol of virtue, charm, perfection and honour, are an element ennobling the work of shoemakers. The design of the seal is complemented by appropriate inscriptions. The seal was attached to a turned hardwood handle.

Mieszko Pawłowski