Archduchess Hermine of Austria

What people wore

Status and identity in women's dress

Women traditionally signaled their marital status and age through their clothing, with girls wearing red boots and white aprons, while married women adopted black, pleated aprons and headscarves. On holidays, women often displayed status by wearing multiple layers of petticoats and elaborate, embroidered bodices.

Getting around

High cost of coach travel

Traveling by coach was expensive, costing 2 aranyforint for a trip between Vienna and Buda in the 18th century, plus tips for the driver.

At the table

Potato flour as a bread substitute

In the early 19th century, potato flour was used as a substitute for grain to bake bread, especially during times of famine or wheat shortages. People even learned to create potato-based yeast and starch for baking.

Music

Popular Music and Automatic Instruments

In the early nineteenth century, popular music included European waltzes and polkas alongside the Hungarian verbunkos style, often played on instruments like the violin, guitar, and piano. Automatic musical clocks and pictures, featuring both folk-style melodies and operatic tunes, were trendy luxury items in bourgeois homes.

Daily life

Traditional farmhouse layout and furniture

Common farmhouse interiors featured a central room called a Stube, which served as a working area, typically furnished with home-made wooden benches, tables, and a large green-tiled stove used for heating and cooking.

What it cost

Shrinking portions for ordinary people

In the early 19th century, basic staples like bread and meat became significantly more expensive, and a visual representation of the era showed food portions shrinking drastically over time. In 100 years, the amount of bread one could buy for a fixed price halved, while the amount of beef fell to less than a quarter.