Ludwika Karolina Radziwiłł

At the table

Rapid inflation of food prices

Food prices rose sharply during the 17th century; for example, the price of vodka in Gdańsk increased sevenfold between 1580 and 1677, and beer prices quintupled between 1550 and 1661. Due to these rising costs, most of a family's budget was spent on food.

What people wore

Valuable Noblewoman's Clothing

Seventeenth-century noblewomen's wills show that items like fur-lined coats, velvet dresses, and specific headgear such as caps and wimples were vital assets, sometimes valued higher than silver or jewelry.

Getting around

Common methods of transport

Ordinary people traveled by walking, riding horses, or using simple horse-drawn carts such as the kolasa.

What it cost

Wages for Workers in 17th Century Warsaw

An ordinary worker in Warsaw earned 3 to 4 grosze per day, while a bricklayer, considered elite, could earn up to 16 grosze daily.

Music

Stryjanka dance at home

The stryjanka was a popular dance performed at home, consisting of a march followed by a lively mazurka accompanied by the violin. While the household danced, others would observe the more energetic second half.

Daily life

Cooking methods and communal eating habits

Cooking took place over a hearth using suspended cauldrons or pots with three legs, with households relying on wood for heat. Food was heavily salted, and meals, which could consist of many courses, were often eaten with hands or wooden spoons from shared bowls.