Weaving Worlds: A Social History of Odense Weavers’ Guild 1600-1850

Lecture by Morten Grymer-Hansen.

Weaving was a vital craft in Early Modern Europe, shaping economic structures, social identities, and knowledge transmission. Yet, the history of weavers and their guilds in Denmark remains underexplored. This project examines the Odense Weavers’ Guild (1600-1850) to reconstruct weavers’ socioeconomic status, gender roles, and knowledge networks. How did weavers navigate shifting social hierarchies, technological advancements, and transnational knowledge flows? How did guild structures evolve amid economic and legal changes? Using guild records, probate inventories, parish registers, and property records, this study explores craft organization, gendered labour, and skill transmission within and beyond guild frameworks. Applying microhistorical and economic approaches, it situates Danish weavers within broader European networks, highlighting their adaptability and resilience. By integrating Scandinavian perspectives into European historiography, this research redefines understandings of craft, labour, and gender in early modern textile production.