Floor construction techniques at the Savoy court in the 17th and 18th centuries with a focus on craftsmen and manufacture of wooden floors

This paper delves into the field of history of technology and explores the different flooring construction techniques used at the Savoy court during the second half of the 17-18th centuries. Through the analysis of archival sources, it investigates the court residences of the Royal Palace, Venaria Reale and Regie Segreterie, and compares the original flooring with their current state, focusing on the construction processes. The flooring techniques and materials of the 17th and 18th centuries are explored, including terracotta, parquet, and marble. References is made to the provenance of the materials, to the role of the craftsmen involved. The technical terminology used in the archival sources are analysed in terms of their origin and included in the glossary developed as part a broader investigation carried out at Construction History Research Centre (CHG) at the Politecnico di Torino (DAD Department), of which the present paper is a part.