Stamp piston

For centuries, barrels remained one of the best ways to transport liquid and bulk goods, leading to enormous demand for them. In almost every Pomeranian town there was a corporation of craftsmen who made them, and the most numerous guilds were found in port towns. The coopers, who also made buckets and large bowls, had their main products – barrels – in their guild seals. The seal of the coopers from Połczyn Zdrój features compasses and a mallet crossed with a carpenter's axe over a barrel. Between the legs of the compasses, we can also see a hammer with a nail-pulling tip. It was a standard set of tools used by coopers, which was often featured on seals. The compasses is a symbol of accuracy. The emblem is surrounded by palm branches, which have multiple symbolic meanings. They meant victory, triumph, peace and justice. Moreover, they were an elegant decorative element, which would not overwhelm the main object of the emblem. It should be noted, however, that in most cases, the designers of guild seals did not think about the symbolism of additional elements, which were used because they were pretty or fashionable.

Mieszko Pawłowski