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The corporate system has been for centuries of the greatest
importance to handicraft in Norway, as well as in other civilised
countries. As early as the 13th century, we find in our country
guilds of artisans, which, however, about the close of the century,
were suppressed by the state. Afterwards the Hanseatic artisans
introduced their corporate organisation into Norway, but when
in the 16th century, as already mentioned, many of them left
Bergen, the corporations, properly speaking, ceased to exist
there for a time. It seems, indeed, as if the different artisans
united in a kind of corporate association resembling the guilds;
but towards the close of the 16th century, a great freedom of
trade was prevalent, partly with unhappy results: «Everything is
pell-mell and upside down,» says a contemporary writer. «The
tailors go fishing salmon, the barbers are beer-house-keepers and
merchants» etc. A decided change in this matter was caused by
the decree of 1621 relating to artisans, journeymen and apprentices,
by which the corporate organisation was firmly and exclusively
established; and this organisation formed the basis of the position
of handicraft, until the act of 1839 again introduced more liberal
principles. Under the corporate system every kind of artisan had a
monopoly within their own line, to which, on the other hand, they
were restricted. It was especially forbidden in any manner to
combine a citizenship as merchant and artisan. In order to become a
master artisan it was necessary to have been apprenticed for a certain
number of years, and thereafter to have been a journeyman for a
certain length of time; and in addition to this it was necessary to
stand a master’s test. It may be mentioned that in 1839 all artisans
were not organised in corporations, but chiefly those embracing
the most important trades and working in the old towns; thus in
Bergen there were 14 corporations, in Kristiania 6, etc., 46
corporations in all. In conformity with the provisions of the act of
1839, the corporations have gradually ceased to exist, and access to
the different trades of artisans is now, also bv virtue of the additional
law passed in 1866, as a general rule open to every man and
woman of the age, and fulfilling the requirements for obtaining
citizenship in a town. In 1894, however, the important provision
was introduced, that in order to obtain citizenship as an artisan, either
the tradesman himself, or the person managing his business, must
have done a probation work. The act of 1839 had done away
with the necessity of examinations outside the corporations,
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