Man and Environment

Regional Stylistic Variation:

The Montafon Parlour

The Montafon in the Vorarlberg is one ofthe western Austrian valleys in which a distinctivestyle of rural living culture could develop. The relativewealth which the valley enjoyed for a time during theeighteenth century was connected ultimately to thedifficult conditions in the valley itself: these con-ditions promoted a mobility and cultural permeabilitythat gave the valley its special character and early onbrought ways of thought and behaviour from otherenvironments in the farmers' world.

In the Vorarlberg, traditional bare woodfurniture was used longer than in any other Austrianregion: painting- in restrained colours- always re-mained the exception. Instead, the characteristicregional style was created out of the changing andoften simultaneous combination of Renaissance,Baroque, Rococo, and Classicist elements.

Features of this Montafon style are theinterplay of the distinctive characteristics of differentwoods with the inlaid slate panel, in the case of theoctagonal tables, or the enhancing of the panelling bymeans of panes typical for the time, as well as thefixed mounting of sitting room buffets. It is natural tosee in this style an early orientation towards bourgeoisliving in a regional culture influenced by agrarian life.

Wall Panelling

Detail, Montafon, Vorarlberg, dated 1807