Page 18 - Guide_EN

Dining and Living Room The baroque door takes us into the “Stube”, what today would be known as a combined dining and living room. The shrine in the corner with Jesus on the cross looks down onto the round dining table which could, when necessary, seat up to sixteen people if some of them sat sideways. It was common practice for all diners to eat from one central pan or bowl. The bulky stove is made from glazed clay brick tiles. Once heated, the tiles stayed warm so provided heat for longer than an ordinary fire. This stove and the open fire in the kitchen were the only two sources of heat in the house. The hole above the stove could be opened to enable warm air to heat the second bedroom where guests or older children slept. The hole to the left of the stove warmed the downstairs bedroom where the old or retired farmer and his wife slept after their son or daughter had taken over the running of the farm. The chicken run is handily integrated into the solid bench next to the stove so the chickens would survive and lay eggs throughout the winter months. The wooden rails above the stove were used to dry clothes and shoes. Equipment used in the production of textiles can be seen in this room, for example a spinning wheel, a bobbin, a carding machine to comb the wool, a wooden twisting machine and two hand looms, as well as gene- ral items used in daily life. Take note of the angle of the wooden wall below the window! This is not due a mistake during the building process but is a planned feature so that one can sit comfortably on the bench. Take a seat and try it for yourself. This room was the focus of family life and the only room where they could all sit together in the warmth after a hard day’s work. Crafts 16