Arti Maggiori
| Major Guild | Symbol | Patronage | Founding | Order | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arte dei Giudici e Notai | Judges, lawyers, and notaries | 1197 | 1 | Listed first of the "Seven Major Guilds" in the 1236 list, and first of the "Twelve Greater Guilds" of the 1282 list currently at the British Museum; and once again first of the new "Seven Major Guilds" in the 1415 revision. Abolished in 1597, the same year a "College of Judges and Notaries" was incorporated. | |
| Arte di Calimala | Merchants, finishers and dyers of foreign cloth | Circa 1190 | 2 | Reportedly the oldest of the Florentine guilds, originally listed as the Mercantati o Arte di Calimala. From the early 13th century, it was one of the three major guilds (the others were the Bankers and the Wool manufacturers) entitled to elect Priori to the Signoria. | |
| Arte della Lana | Wool manufacturers and merchants | Pre-1192 | 3 (1282) 4 (1236) |
Elected a Prior from early 13th C. Fourth in precedence in 1236, rose to third in 1282. Took charge of Santa Maria del Fiore in 1282. | |
| Arte del Cambio | Bankers and money-changers | Pre-1197 | 4 (1282) 3 (1236) |
Elected a Prior from early 13th C. | |
| Arte della Seta | Silk weavers and merchants | Pre-1192 | 5 | Included bronze sculptors. Only began electing a Prior (representative to the Signoria) after 1283. | |
| Arte dei Medici e Speziali | Physicians and pharmacists | 1197 | 6 | Elected Prior only after 1283. Included painters from 1314, and as an independent branch from 1378; also included shopkeepers who sold spices, dyes, and medicines. | |
| Arte dei Vaiai e Pellicciai | Furriers and skinners | 1197 | 7 | Elected Prior only after 1283. |
Read more about this topic: Guilds Of Florence