Traditional Markets At The Museum

Last time I visited the folk art museum, besides the nice folk costumes, there was a section dedicated to traditional markets, which I found not only interesting, but also educative as well. Markets these days are very different and those who have little or no knowledge of the past might learn from an exhibition like this.

Just to be clear which time frame we're talking about, think of the 17th - (beginning of the) 20th century.

Childhood ad a very different meaning back then. Kids had duties, had to do chores and playing was never a priority. Those small chariots were built for them, to be able to pull it while transporting goods. When you look at these scenes, you can appreciate your childhood more.

As chariots were the main means of transportation, there was a high demand for riding accessories.

Horse shoes and bells.

Corn and wheat was considered staple food, still is (not sure about corn) and this was the way to transport it (by chariot) and these were the pots in which they sold it. These were for measuring too.

For those of you who are not familiar with the history of my country, those bags were the way people were transporting their goods. Using these bags continuously led to having a bent, curved spinal cord. Also, you can see an old scale on the table, those were used not only at the market but at home too. My grandmother had one, we still have it, but it's more like a museum object now.

Most of the kitchen tools and dishes were made of wood as that was the only available raw material to use.

This was my favorite scene. Three women having a chat at the market, while trying to sell eggs, wheat, beans, whatever they had for sale that day. Let's not forget that there was no electricity back in those days, there was no TV, radio or newspaper, so news was spreading by word of mouth and gossip as well. The market was the perfect place for these women to meet and find out about the latest news.

There were books and almanacs as well. I remember my grandparents had a few and I loved reading these. Information traveled slowly back in those days :) I also love old, yellow paper.

Two stylish chairs. Some similar ones you might still find here and there, but not with marquetry. These were almost certainly custom made for some nobles as the poor only had benches.

Brooms and all kinds of wooden tools they used around the house, like rakes and forks.

Look at these tools and imagine yourself doing the housework, chores with these tools. Cooking, ironing with charcoal and so on. I'd rather not :)

I don't even know what these long things are. The ones on the right were used for weaving.

Straw hat was everyone's best friend, I mean the poor obviously. Working the fields without a straw hat was like suicide. Women wore head scarves. Old village women still do.

Pottery, handmade, hand painted.

Traditional folk costumes of the region.

Zither, flutes, hand-embroidered leather belts, straw baskets, hand-embroidered wall cloths and so on. Everything people needed those days.

Gingerbread, which was the highlight any fair, That was the souvenir for kids and women.

Life was tough and I'm glad I wasn't born back then.

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