Wax House (Geto) in Dubrovnik according to Trade Books of Kabužić Brothers (1426–1433) Cover Image

Кућа воштана (Geto) у Дубровнику према трговачким књигама браће Кабужић (1426–1433)
Wax House (Geto) in Dubrovnik according to Trade Books of Kabužić Brothers (1426–1433)

Author(s): Desanka Kovačević-Kojić
Subject(s): History, Economic history, Middle Ages, 15th Century
Published by: Istorijski institut, Beograd
Keywords: wax house (geto); crude wax; fine wax; Squarço (Reminder); Trade Books of the Kabužić Brothers (1426–1433); Kabužić brothers; Dubrovnik; Dubrovnik government; customs; officials; expert staff

Summary/Abstract: The wax house (geto) was processing crude wax (çerа cruda) into fine wax (çerа finа). Particularly important for the examination of this process and operational organisation of the wax house (geto) are the Trade Books of the Kabužić Brothers (1426-1433), i.e. their Sqarço (Reminder) which has not been published, unlike the Diary and the General Ledger. Each item of çerа cruda is accompanied with all elements relating to its processing (carrier costs, waste, a percentage for customs – dohana del geto). To the right, in the second part of the same çerа crudа item, the quantity of çerа finа obtained by purifying çerа crudа is expressed. This process lasted most often from four to nine days. Two officiales, appointed from the ranks of nobility by the Dubrovnik government performed administrative activities, made payments to employees and collected mandatory customs (dohana del geto). Of other staff, there were primarily maistori, as well as numerous workers (lavoranti) and carriers (bastasi). They all worked for compensation. Based on Squarço, new knowledge is obtained about this important institution in Dubrovnik’s economic life. The importance of such knowledge is all the more important as fine wax (çerа finа) obtained through processing in the wax house was – after precious metals, the main item of export, from Serbia and Bosnia through Dubrovnik to foreign markets.

  • Issue Year: 2016
  • Issue No: 65
  • Page Range: 101-111
  • Page Count: 11
  • Language: Serbian