Princess Maria Czartoryska

What people wore

Everyday Undergarments of Women

Fashionable women wore a white, long, and wide shirt called a domieszka as everyday undergarment, while young women often did not wear panties, leaving them for older generations. These shifts were crafted from materials like Dutch linen, muslin, or cambric, and decorated with lace and embroidery.

Getting around

Poor conditions of road inns

Inns were notoriously filthy and poorly equipped, forcing many travelers to sleep on straw in rooms shared with peasants or to camp in fields.

At the table

Mutton served to domestic workers

While beef and veal were preferred by the gentry, mutton was considered less desirable and was frequently served to domestic staff.

Music

Dance styles in Königsberg during the 1700s

During the mid-18th century in Königsberg, balls featured minuets and gavottes, and popular masquerades included polonaises and quadrilles.

Daily life

Hard Labor: Preparing Winter Fuel

In some rural areas, families bundled green pine branches into small, straw-tied packages called Kulelkes to fuel their wide ovens during the winter. A child might be required to chop and tie nine of these bundles every evening after school to ensure the home remained heated.

What it cost

Earnings of skilled journeymen in Berlin

A journeyman craftsman such as a tailor, mason, or carpenter in Berlin typically earned 8 to 9 Taler per month.