Workmaster

1703, Richard Neve (pseudonym T. N. Philomath), The City and Countrey Purchaser, and Builder’s Dictionary, London: J. Sprint et al., title page, The Customs, and Methods of Measuring of all Artificers Work, concern’d in Building; together with the City and Countrey Prices, not only of Workmanship, but of Materials also: The which will be extraordinary useful in making of Bargains, or Contracts betwixt the Workmaster and Workman; and likewise in computing the Value (or Charge of Erecting) of any Fabrick, great or small.

[…] Sathan the workmaster of all mischeef being greved that his own kingdome draweth to an end […] like a slie Serpent setteth snares and pitfalles innumerable, to intrap men and bring them to destruction by policie […]

When this is over, many fine mats are distributed which are taken to the workmaster. If he is satisfied he accepts the mats, but if he is angry he rejects them.

It was determined upon the day at Spires, on the ninth day of April, in the year, counting from God's birth, 1464 that the workmaster, JOST DOTZINGER, of Worms, workmaster of the high chapter at Strasburg, shall have an assembly of craftsmen in his district, when three or four masters shall be taken and chosen, to come together on a certain day, as they may agree, and what is there determined on by a majority of those who are so congregated in chapters, and who are then present, and how they may decrease or increase some articles, that shall be kept throughout the whole faternity.

AUGUST Fredrik HOLLMING (1854- 1913), born in Finland, workmaster in St. Petersburg from 1880 until his death, with a workshop at 35 Kazanskaya Street; in 1900 he moved into Fabergé's new building.

Aarne returned to his native Finland in 1891 to become a workmaster in Tampere before being hired by Faberge that same year. His workshop produced gold and silver objects many of which were translucently enamelled in the Western taste.

A notable collection would contain a number of cigarette boxes, authenticated, from either a variety of workmasters or from the hands of one particular workmaster.

A nephrite-and-diamond imperial presentation box bearing the monogram of Czar Nicholas II, made by Fabergé workmaster Henrik Wigstron, St. Petersburg, 1900.