Images of Charcoal Makers

I am collecting as many images of Woodcolliers as I can from the late sixteenth, and early seventeenth century. That said, it is fair to say that being the marginal group that Woodcolliers were there aren't that many images around.  Here are a few I have found so far, or course I will post any more as I find them.


This is one I found on a 'Cries of Rome' pamphlet dated 1612, interesting sausage shaped sacks, not very big.....

Image online at https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/8d/ce/69/8dce6988c6a7c483ad338ee42506472c.jpg

...when compared to the ones in  this 1610 statute  from London that specifies the size of sacks as:  "The length of a Colliers Sacke, one yard and a half. The breadth three quarters of a yard." That is 54 inches long and 27 inches wide.

I am not sure of the provenance of this image, I was sent this image by a friend some time ago and I can't remember who it was!

I think this shows a collier emptying a sack into an inspectors 'regulation' sack to prove his is the correct size.... or the chap holding the sack open might be the charcoal maker?  What makes me think otherwise is his stick - a measuring device?

This is the one  depiction of an English collier I have and a nice depiction of 'high shoes', commonly called startups by modern re-enactors - though there is some dispute over this term. Also  a nice image of a purse hanging from his belt.

I have made a few charcoal sacks to the 'regulation' size and they are a fair size, below is a picture of myself stood next to one full of charcoal.  It took two of us to lift this; unlike the muscle bound collier above!

The last image I have found was drawn by French artist Jaques Callot (C.1592 -1635) and is of St Alexander of Comana, also known as 'the Charcoal Burner', who died around 251 AD. 

Image online at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_of_Comana

He is the patron saint of Charcoal Burners and although this is a depiction of a figure from the early days of Christianity who lived in what is modern day Turkey, he seems to be wearing contemporary early seventeenth century western clothing.  Not sure I would want to carry a sack of charcoal on my back though!