Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - Second part - X. Manufacturing Industries. By Å. G. Ekstrand, Ph. D., Chief Engineer, Control Office of the Department of Finance - 12. Handicraft and Domestic Industry, by A. Raphael, Ph. D., D. C. L., Stockholm - Domestic Industry
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DOMESTIC INDUSTRY.
901
handicraft possessing, of course, chiefly a local importance and, at the
best, finding a market at other places in the country, a more detailed
account ■will in this connection not be necessary.
In order to effect a closer tie between the associations of craftsmen that
partly had proceeded out of the old guilds, partly were yoluntary ones, constituted
after 1864, a central organization of Swedish craft and Industry was formed
and obtained its first common regulations in 1898. The Kingdom was divided
into twenty-five districts according to Läns, being at liberty, however, to unite
certain districts. In 1903, new regulations still in force were accepted. The
district-division was abolished, though with the right to retain it for such places
where it might be deemed suitable. The organization now became of a dnal
character: in the first place, there is the Central Organization of Industri
and Craft for the purpose of effecting reforms in the trade legislation and
generally to take care of handicraft, industry, art-industry, and even domestic industry;
there is, moreover, the Employers’ Central Association exclusively a contest
organization, based on the special unions — each of which for its trade is
endeavouring for unity throughout the whole Kingdom with a central board in
Stockholm — and local unions in all working-places. These two divisions have
a common office, the Central Board of Industry and Craft in Stockholm,
and a common organ of their own, the Handtverks och Industri-Tidning, and are
also in other respects in touch with each other. The Organization has gained
great adherence all over the country; brisk activity is all the same still going on
for development and perfection in this respect. — Statistics for the special artisans’
unions do not exist, as far as we know; the number of general handicraft and
similar unions, according to the statements of 1900, however, amounted to 76
with 6,585 members.
Domestic Industry.
Domestic Industry is of very old standing in Sweden. Going as far back as to
heathen times, it is evident that already then several kinds of manual art were
exercised to satisfy domestic wante. Forging, particularly, was such an important
trade that the word came to imply manual professions in general, even in a
figurative sense. Everything wanted was generally manufactured at home.
Everyone had the necessary knowledge in different sorts of occupations.
During the last few decades, a decided change has occurred concerning the
domestic industry for one’s own supply so that in numerous regions it has disappeared,
almost without leaving any traces behind, while, on the other hand, it has in
other regions been transformed into manufacturing industry with a consequently
more or less extended distribution of work.
This decline or disappearance is attributed to the development of the great
industry and of commerce, to the facility — owing to improved communications
— with which the products are dispersed all over the country, and, finally, to
the taste for change and novelty in domestic utensils, clothes, etc., — a state
of things which, in due order, has got a footing with the country people and
cannot easily be satisfied by domestic industry. Among the special branches of
that industry ought to be mentioned the fabrication of textile goods in certain
Läns. Especially in the Vesterbotten Län, woman’s talent for weaving is
remarkable. Domestic utensils and tools are still an object for domestic manufacture
in out-of-the-way localities.
The most important domestic industry by far is that of articles destined for
sale. The fabrication of whatsoever belongs to clothing, and, in the first place,
spinning and textile fabrics here occupy the most prominent part. This state of
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