Guild members believed that their work was a calling from God, that they were following the command to “tend the garden” in a different way from the farmer, and thus that their work was being done to the glory of God. Production standards were set not simply for sound economic reasons, but because quality workmanship was seen as a legitimate end in itself. Whenever possible, guild members would leave identifying marks on their work, not so much for advertising or so that problems could be traced to their source, but as a sign of pride in their work.
