Guild to the Waag
The Zunft zur Waag is one of the twelve historical guilds of the city of Zurich in Switzerland. Your guild house is the "Zunfthaus zur Waag" on the Münsterhof . The guild of the Waag united wool and linen weavers as well as hat makers and bleachers. It was founded in 1336.
history
The guild got the name "zur Waag" from their house. It was mentioned for the first time in a council judgment of 1303, which grants the owners at that time a building right. In 1315 Peter Schmid, a doctor or pharmacist from Biel in Upper Valais , bought the house . The acquisition was in connection with the donation of a benefice for the Maria Magdalena altar in the Grossmünster . Peter Schmid had close ties to the canon monastery there and to the Fraumünster . After his death in 1334, a chapel was built from his legacy in his home parish. It is uncertain whether the name of the house “zur Waag” can be traced back to his profession as a doctor and pharmacist or to the location of the Marktwaage at Münsterhof .
The house was first named "Zur Waag" in 1385. 22 members of the linen weavers bought the house for 108 guilders for their guild; since it was not able to do this itself. After 1405 the "Haus zur Waag" was considered a drinking room for linen weavers. In 1440, as a result of the merger, wool weavers also moved there.
In 1630 the Libra guild bought the adjoining house "zum horny monk" for 800 guilders. In 1636 both houses were demolished and the “Zunfthaus zur Waag” at Münsterhof 8 was built in their place by 1637. In 1801, after the guild constitution was repealed, it was bought by a guild, but the guild secured the right of repurchase and the right to continue holding its meetings there. In 1828 the Zunft zur Waag was able to buy back its traditional house for 19,000 guilders.
Structural changes of the late 18th century have been reversed by recent renovations.
Guild to the Waag today
Today there are around 150 guilds, only a few "textiles" can be found. In order to maintain the connection to the craft, the guild organizes a craft day once a year, where the candidates for admission to the guild can produce their journeyman's piece.
In addition to the Sechseläuten and the Martinirechenfahl, guild life includes monthly gatherings in the guild house. Regular events with partners are part of the annual calendar.
On the Sechseläuten, the Guilds wear Biedermeier costumes for hat makers. An oversized hat at the beginning of the parade formation shows the affinity for this craft. The weaving is symbolized by a carriage that shows the weaving shuttle shooting back and forth. The bleachers show a water pound on a cart. Since 2014, the Zunft zur Waag has been accompanied by police music at the parade.
Zunfthaus zur Waag today
The tenant couple Sandra and Sepp Wimmer have been running the guild house since 2004. Today, weddings are an important part of the Zunfthaus, as it is one of four official wedding venues in the city of Zurich .
The first floor was redesigned in 2014 and is the public restaurant in the guild house. Traditional dishes are served. The restaurant is a member of the Golden Fish Table Society. The various historical halls such as the guild hall or the smaller guild room can be booked for private or business events.
literature
- Markus Brühlmeier, Beat Frei: The Zurich guild system . 2 volumes, NZZ Buchverlag, Zurich, 2005. ISBN 3-038231-71-1
- Walter Baumann: Zürcher Sechseläuten, Constaffel and the 25 guilds ; Publishing house NZZ , Zurich 1992