POITEVIN INTERIOR- 19 th century
Even if there is only one duchess bed in this room today, it could house several members of the same family ( 4 on average). The furniture of this period was made of local wood: walnut, cherry, elm but only rarely oak. Here, apart from the oak table, the furniture is made of cherry wood.
-
The four-poster bed allowed for privacy thanks to the sliding curtains.
The chair served as a valet for the clothes but also as a stepladder to climb on the very high bed.
This copper basin was designed to hold hot embers to warm the bed.
This child's fronteau is a straw fohead-pad used when learning to walk to prevent head injuries.
Before bed time, the moine was slipped between the sheets to warm them with embers.
The mattress, known as the paillasse (straw matress), was made of checked canvas and stuffed with oat straw. On top, a duvet filled with goose feathers provided warmth.
People would undress here, in the raise, out of sight, between the bed and the wall.
This long-tailed, soot-black pan is stabilized by a weight.
This oval basket was made into a cradle. During the day, women would carry it with them to the fields, holding it under their arm.
These are three-legged earthenware pots; the larger one was used to stew the dried beans while the smaller one held the hot water for cooking.
Stoneware carboys were used for the storage of alcohols, such as brandy or piquette.
Along with its powder flask, this piston gun is the weapon of the house. It was used against vermin: magpies, crows, foxes.
This rustic clock has two cast iron weights; its brightly decorated face is reminiscent of Epinal pictures.
Faisselle is the name given to the fresh cheese and also to the mould in which it is drained. This one is made of earthenware.
An earthenware pitcher
This is a caquelon, a clay pot
This pole served as a shelter for the cat of the house, it allowed it to escape the cold and dampness of the ground.
A salt and pepper shaker
A fruit basket
In summer, the flycatcher, filled with water and vinegar, was kept on the table. However, "you can't catch flies with vinegar" (an old saying), so a sugar cube served as bait.
The little chair in front of the spinning wheel was used by the young ladies of the house, the daughter and daughter-in-law.
This iron lunch holder with two compartments and was used to take meals to the field.
The straw chair was assigned to the grandmother to knit and spin her distaff, with her feet on her foot warmer, a container containing embers
This drip pan was used for collecting the juices and fat from the meat during cooking.
This other dinner-holder has a handle like a basket.