ABSTRACT
This essay is about craftsmen in Swedish towns in the eighteenth century. It is not, however, concerned with their economic position, but instead seeks to place them in the political and symbolic hierarchies of the towns. The political influence of master craftsmen is assessed, and an attempt is made to investigate how their position in urban society could be shaped and reflected in different symbolic ways. This is an area towards which much academic interest has recently been directed. Symbolic and ritual aspects of urban life have been studied for both the medieval and early modern period in Europe, with processions receiving particular attention for their meanings and functions.2
