Man and Society

Pastoral Pride:

Upper Austrian Rural Furniture

Nothing has had a more profound influ-

ence on the image of folk art than so- called peasantfurniture, which corresponded to the lifestyle of arural elite only from the mid- eighteenth century. Thecrisis of the estates and the gradual infiltration ofenlightened ideas, along with agricultural reforms,brought a new upswing to the peasantry. The ruralworkmen's skills let farmers share the feeling ofwealthy baroque living.

It was also in that phase of cultural changethat clear regional differences of style first developed.In the Upper Austrian region, where the refined way ofliving was reflected in the addition of a second parlouron the upper floor, joiner- painters developed theirown colourful painting style. Imposing wardrobes andbeds with decorative headboards replaced the olderfurniture forms. The influence of convents and mo-nasteries on form and selection of motifs cannot beoverlooked.

These prestige furniture pieces, as parts of atrousseau, were made to be show pieces from theoutset. They were the furniture for the so- called" proper" sitting- room and remained there until, withthe next generation, new pieces came into the house.The painted scenes of wedding ceremonies corres-ponded to this lifestyle of demonstrative prosperity.

Wedding Scene

Detail from a bed headboard

Urban Huemer

Aigen near Offenhausen, Upper Austria, dated 1781