A counting house, or counting room, was traditionally an office in which the financial books of a business were kept.[1] It was also the place that the business received appointments and correspondence relating to demands for payment.[2]
Painting depicting bankers in an Italian counting house in the 14th century, from the Cocharelli Codex
Originating in Italy, the counting house was a central feature of commerce in the high Middle Ages and afterward. Calculations were typically quantified through the use of a counting board where the process could be spectated by interested persons.[3] As technology developed and new practices emerged, particularly the adoption of Arabic numerals in financial record-keeping, use of the counting board became obsolete.
As the use of counting houses spread in the 19th century, so did their reputation as being often uncomfortable and dreary places to work.[4] This was most famously exemplified in Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol, where the underpaid Bob Cratchit spends his days toiling.
Factory (trading post), a fortified settlement for the counting houses of overseas merchants
Referencesedit
^Nelson, Richard (1902). Commercial and Counting-House Arithmetic. p. 205.
^Cross v. Smith, 1 M. & Selw., 545 (KB 13 May 1813) ("The counting-house is the place where all appointments respecting the joint business, and all notices should be addressed, and it is the duty of the merchant to take care that a proper person be in attendance.").
^Oliver, Jack (1997). "Calculations in Medieval Europe". Mathematics in School. 26 (3): 12–14. ISSN 0305-7259.
counting, house, counting, house, counting, room, traditionally, office, which, financial, books, business, were, kept, also, place, that, business, received, appointments, correspondence, relating, demands, payment, painting, depicting, bankers, italian, coun. A counting house or counting room was traditionally an office in which the financial books of a business were kept 1 It was also the place that the business received appointments and correspondence relating to demands for payment 2 Painting depicting bankers in an Italian counting house in the 14th century from the Cocharelli Codex Originating in Italy the counting house was a central feature of commerce in the high Middle Ages and afterward Calculations were typically quantified through the use of a counting board where the process could be spectated by interested persons 3 As technology developed and new practices emerged particularly the adoption of Arabic numerals in financial record keeping use of the counting board became obsolete As the use of counting houses spread in the 19th century so did their reputation as being often uncomfortable and dreary places to work 4 This was most famously exemplified in Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol where the underpaid Bob Cratchit spends his days toiling See also editAccounts payable Count room a secure room for counting cash Exchequer Factory trading post a fortified settlement for the counting houses of overseas merchantsReferences edit Nelson Richard 1902 Commercial and Counting House Arithmetic p 205 Cross v Smith 1 M amp Selw 545 KB 13 May 1813 The counting house is the place where all appointments respecting the joint business and all notices should be addressed and it is the duty of the merchant to take care that a proper person be in attendance Oliver Jack 1997 Calculations in Medieval Europe Mathematics in School 26 3 12 14 ISSN 0305 7259 Anderson Gregory 1976 Victorian Clerks nbsp This accounting related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Counting house amp oldid 1212286899, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
