A stonemason,[1] or stonecarver,[2] is a craftsperson who works exclusively or primarily with stone.
Culture
Captives taken by Ironborn during their raids become thralls bound to their captors in service, with skilled craftsmen, like stonemasons, being considered to be of even more value.[3]
History
Antiquity
The Three Sage Kings sought after Andal craftsmen, such as stonemasons, who taught the First Men how to further strengthen the defenses of their castles and holdfasts, for which they were handsomely rewarded.[4]
The Rhoynish artisans, metalworkers, and stonemasons brought skills far in advance of those achieved by their Westerosi counterparts.[5]
Construction of the Eyrie took place intermittently over generations, with Roland I Arryn tasking a small army of stonemasons to use hammers and chisels to carve out steps to ease the ascent where the slopes of the Giant's Lance grew steeper. During this process, four common workmen and a master stonemason died whilst making the ascent.[6]
The archway of the legs of the Titan of Braavos was carved and shaped by three generations of sculptors and stonemasons.[7]
Targaryen Era
King Maegor I Targaryen took personal charge of the Red Keep's construction in 43 AC, which lasted two years. When the castle was completed in 45 AC, Maegor threw a feast for its builders, carvers, and stonemasons. After three days of feasting, however, Maegor the Cruel had all of the craftsmen killed so that only he would know the Red Keep's secrets.[8][1] When Maegor the Cruel was found dead on the Iron Throne in 48 AC, one theory suggested that a mason familiar with the castle's secret passages had escaped Maegor's massacre and assassinated the king.[1]
Ser Tyland Lannister, the Hand of the King in the first years of Aegon III Targaryen's reign, continued the restoration of the Dragonpit by setting hundreds of stonemasons, carpenters, and builders to work.[9]
Following the death of the old High Septon, King Baelor I Targaryen replaced him with a common-born stonemason named Pate,[10] who could carve stonework so beautifully that Baelor believed him to be the Smith in human form.[11] Despite being a fantastic stonecarver, this High Septon was simple,[10] and could not read or write, nor remember or recite any prayers, and thus was ill-suited to his new vocation as High Septon.[11][10]
Recent Events
A Game of Thrones
When King Robert I Baratheon visits the crypts of Winterfell to pay his respects to Lyanna Stark at her tomb, the king feels the stonemason failed to capture her beauty.[12]
Halder, a recruit from the same class as Jon Snow, has apprenticed as a stonemason.[13] When Jeor Mormont, Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, decides to give the Valyrian steel sword Longclaw to Jon Snow, Halder helps Spotted Pate of Maidenpool carve stone for the pommel, which goes from the bear of House Mormont to a snarling wolf's head of pale stone to reflect Jon's Stark heritage.[14]
When news of Lord Eddard Stark's death reaches Winterfell, Maester Luwin sorrowfully states the need to find a stonecarver who knew his likeness well.[2]
A Clash of Kings
A stonemason creates a granite statue in Ned's image for his tomb in the crypts of Winterfell.[15]
Cutjack, a member of Yoren's last Night's Watch recruitment group, used to be a stonemason.[16]
A Feast for Crows
Lord Gyles Rosby hires a master stonecarver to make a statue of the late Lord Tywin Lannister for the Lion Gate of King's Landing.[17]
Cersei Lannister tells Taena Merryweather the history of Baelor I Targaryen's stonemason High Septon and recalls that some still claim Baelor's Hand had the man poisoned to spare the realm the embarrassment.[11]
A Dance with Dragons
Reznak mo Reznak informs Daenerys Targaryen that the freedmen are carving stone and laying bricks for very low prices, thus stealing work from the craftsmen of the guilds, such as stonemasons and bricklayers, who are also upset that some freedmen are calling themselves journeymen, or even masters, titles that belong by rights only to the craftsmen of the guilds. When this issue is raised, Dany decides that only guild members shall be permitted to use those titles, provided the guilds open their rolls to any freedman who can prove their skills.[18]
Known stonemasons
Quotes
During the reign of King Baelor the Blessed, a simple stonemason was chosen as High Septon. He worked stone so beautifully that Baelor decided he was the Smith reborn in mortal flesh. The man could neither read nor write, nor recall the words of the simplest of prayers.[11]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Maegor I.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 66, Bran VII.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, The Iron Islands.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, The Reach: Andals in the Reach.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, Ancient History: Ten Thousand Ships.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, The Vale: The Eyrie.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, The Free Cities: Braavos.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 18, Catelyn IV.
- ↑ Fire & Blood, Under the Regents - The Hooded Hand.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Baelor I.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 28, Cersei VI.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 4, Eddard I.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 26, Jon IV.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 60, Jon VIII.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 4, Bran I.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 5, Arya II.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 7, Cersei II.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 11, Daenerys II.