The Arts of Florence

Passing on Lambertesca Street corner Chiasso del Buco, it is possible to observe a small building in which the Minor Art of the Correggiai or beltmakers had its headquarters. Unfortunately, all that remains now of the old destination is an architrave with four shields and the imprint of an earlier larger arch. Although the guild’s emblem has not been preserved, the same shields placed above the entrance testify to the activity carried out within it. In fact, in addition to the girdle-makers, it included saddle-makers and just the shield-makers. 

Of the four observable shields, only the two side ones date back to the period of residence of the Art. In contrast, the central ones were installed in place of the Correggiai and Florence symbols when, in the 16th century, the building became an office of the nearby city of Pistoia. 

From left to right, the coats of arms represent the Florentine People, the Medici family, the city of Pistoia and the Guelph faction. 

The guild was governed by three consuls who were elected by the three professions united in the Art. 

The Correggiai produced belts for military use, for hanging swords from armour, and those for civilian use to support long dresses and purses. In addition to the classic leather belts, there were also belts of much more refined craft, covered in silk, velvet or even gold-plated. 

Then there were the masters of shields. These used solid wooden planks, usually from beech or olive trees, to which a very hard leather rag was applied on both sides. Depending on the use to which it was to be put, the shield could be completed with a simple emblem of the city (as in the case of the military ones), or decorated with splendid decorations (as in the case of those intended for city parades). One of the most common types in the medieval period was the Pavia shield, a long rectangle bevelled at the bottom. 

Finally, there were the saddlers, true leather artisans to whom were commissioned not only saddles of all kinds but also many pieces of military equipment, quivers, armbands, shinier, and crocchi.