Craftsmen’s guilds in Upper Silesian towns - Muzeum im. o. Emila Drobnego w Rybniku, Silesian, Rybnik

The exhibition „Craftsmen’s guilds in Upper Silesian towns” is an attempt to show the situation and functioning of guilds that assembled independent craftsmen, creating self-governing, professional and social organizations since Middle Ages. Due to changes caused by the disintegration of previous social structures in the 19th century, as well as a rapid industry development, traditional handicraft forms of production were marginalized. Still, what remains is the prestige of a craftsman - a professional who knows his trade and the needs of his environment. Source-based narration, documents, photos, artifacts illustrating the technique, tangible and intangible culture of Upper Silesian craftsmen – it all serves as a way of bringing the visitors closer to the lives of craftsmen since the Middle Ages till 1939.