Most of what is called “small business” in other countries falls in Germany within the legal category of Handwerk […] Difficulties of translation may point to differences not just in perception but in reality, and indeed a case could be made that Handwerk is so peculiarly German that the concept is simply not translatable. (Wolfgang Streeck)

In other words, we must know how to label an event if we are to know how to explain it. We can only learn the nature of events as we formulate their explanations. (Mark Gould)

It was an 80th birthday celebration, that fourth of September 1928 in Hamburg. At nine in the evening, surrounded by his family, Ehrenobermeister (honorary head master) Johann Hermann Schumacher of the Butchers Guild stepped out onto his balcony to observe the festivities his fellow artisans had prepared for him. Sparkling young ladies— the salesgirls of the butcher shops— dressed in snow-white bonnets and aprons, apprentices and journeymen, again in white with berets or black caps, and finally the masters themselves all marched past, the color of their costumes and the gold and silver guild flag fading in and out of the shadows created by the torches. From near and far the butcher's trade had come to pay homage to their old leader with cheers, smiles and even song as the guild choir entertained the assembled throng with sentimental and joyful melodies. But soon a different chorus arose, for Master Schumacher himself had come into the midst of the crowd. Overwhelmed by emotion he expressed his great joy that on his birthday it was his colleagues who had wanted to share his happiness. Again there were congratulations and when the procession finally moved off, it was treated to a memorable sight: Papa Schumacher between two cake-eating grandchildren with their very own white aprons and striped jackets. Even the youngest members of the trade wanted to honor their aged Ehrenobermeister.

Handicraft: A Relic of the Past or a Portent of the Future?

Although historians will never know what thoughts might have coursed through Master Schumacher's mind during that warm, late summer's evening, he may very well have taken the opportunity to review the course of his own illustrious career.