Stonemasonry is the craft that includes the cutting, shaping and polishing of raw stone using hand tools or machines. People who practice this craft are called stonemasons, but there are various levels of achievement within this profession, namely apprenticeship, journeyman and master. While the lower two ranks are both considered a stonemason, and the highest rank is called a master stonemason. These ranks began during Medieval times and still hold true today with a few changes.
Apprentice Rank
Apprentices work under master stonemasons for about three years at present before obtaining the rank of journeyman. Apprentices cannot perform tasks on their own without …show more content…
In this rank, they can work under an employer on their own to earn wages. However, they cannot be self-employed nor have apprentices under them. Even during this stage, a journeyman stonemason can further his or her expertise by specialising in various areas, such as engraver, banker mason and carver mason. Each one expands upon the basic stonemasonry skills that an apprentice learns and helps the journeyman move closer to the goal of becoming a master in this craft.
Master Rank
The journeyman must prove to the guild that he or she has the necessary skills to merit receiving the master rank. One does this by creating a masterpiece that exhibits his or her level of expertise. Once a journeyman moves up to the rank of master stonemason, he or she can be self-employed and train apprentices. It requires diligence, training, practice and more to achieve this rank.
Basic Qualifications to Become a Stonemason
While people acquire knowledge and skills through training to become stonemasons, they must first have the following basic qualifications:
• Comfortable working with their hands
• Efficient hand-eye