w
ITALIAN SCENERY, MANNERS , AND CUSTOMS. 63
FILATE X X V I I .
THE TRAVELLING TINKER.
I n every country of Europe there are men of different trades, who travel from village to village
to seek for employment; and these travelling mechanics are exceedingly well calculated
for the accommodation of the inhabitants of the country. Among these the most noted is the
tinker, who with great facility sets up his workshop in any corner he j
The drawing for this plate was taken at Andorno, a little town in the territory of Verceil,
which gives to the lord of the manor the title of marquis. The portico represented is of the
most common kind of architecture found in Lombardy and Piedmont. The tinker is seated
under the portico, working at his portable anvil, Avhich, being pointed at the foot, is easily
fixed in the ground. The basket, that holds his tools when he travels, is now converted into a
seat. The tinker is usually accompanied by an apprentice; and when they arrive at any place
where it is likely they may find work, the master stops to prepare his shop, wliile the apprentice
goes about crying his trade. The people who want him come out quickly at his call; and
the news that the tinker is in the village soon spreads about, for they are well aware, that, if
they do not hasten to employ him, he Avill not stay long without work. Accordingly we see
here several persons coming out of their houses with different copper vessels that want mending.
These tinkers are in general of the gipsy tribe. Their most curious tool is the bellows.
These consist of a leather bag, which answers the purpose of carrying their smaller tools, and
is converted into a temporary pair of bellows by applying several pipes to as many holes,
through which the boy forces the air by compressing the bag as he kneels on the ground.
1