Funeral pall decorations of the Porters’ and Grain Weighers’ Guild

Guilds were associations formed by craftsmen and traders, such as smiths, bakers and carpenters. They took care of quality and price control, as well as pay and working conditions. They served as a social safety net in case of illness or old age. This care continued after death. Guilds had their own burial vaults and colleagues would carry the bier, covered with a black cloth. This pall was decorated with silver pins, which symbolized the trade of that particular guild. The Centraal Museum owns thirteen pall decorations of the Porters’ and Grain Weighers’ Guild: hauling porters, grain measures, and spades.