1. Definition and nature
The term guild artifacts denotes objects that were in the possession of the guilds and are thought to have been particularly associated with the communal activities of the guild members and to have helped establish the identity of the corporation. Such artifacts include guild seals, banners, and symbols [8], but also objects used in religious ceremonies and the commemoration of the dead – less commonly tools or products of crafts and trades. Frequently the guild artifacts are und…