Knowledge Transfer Within Artisan Families in Early Nineteenth-Century Rural Finland

Abstract

In nineteenth‑century Finland, artisans constituted an important part of society, and the majority of them lived in the countryside. Rural artisans were jacks-of-all-trades who met the needs of country folk. This chapter studies the rural artisans’ children and explores how craft knowledge was often transferred to the next generation. In early modern society, it was only natural that the son followed his father’s trade. This was a matter of societal stability and maintaining the social order. It was also practical to invest in the children’s future by transferring the family’s craft knowledge and skills to the offspring, who would provide future care for the elders in turn. Nonetheless, not all artisans’ sons became professionals, and practising a craft was not option for daughters since girls were not permitted to become artisans themselves.