or bottega (italian term for workshop). Place of excellence for artistic and artisan production. Generally, it is a specialized form of an organization of artistic work, which was present in ancient Rome and developed in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. It is characterized by the presence of a master and various assistants. Other than guaranteeing the quality of the extremely varied products, the bottega ran as a legal formative activity, carried out in favour of apprentices (garzoni (errand boy) or disciples), who were called upon for an internship between the ages of about 7 and 14 years old, and remained until they obtain working status. Usually organized as a family business, it was the means to protect and hand down the antique artistic and artisan techniques and traditions. Also, thanks to the ingrained habits, the patrimony acquired knowledge (intended as a combination of techniques and art tools) handed down from teacher to student.