Louise de Mérode

What people wore

The blue sarrau smock

Men commonly wore a blue cotton or hemp smock called a sarrau, which served as a dust cover over their daily clothes.

Getting around

Slow but steady horse-drawn barges

Before railways, tow barges drawn by horses were a common way to travel between towns, moving at a steady but slow pace of 3 to 4 km per hour.

At the table

Cheap Protein from Mussels

Mussels were a cheap source of protein for the poor, sometimes costing as little as 2.5 centimes for one hundred in the 1840s.

Music

Musical instruments in homes and villages

The piano became a standard piece of furniture in the homes of the wealthy bourgeoisie, while the development of village wind bands increased the demand for instruments like clarinets, cornets, and trombones. Meanwhile, traditional drone instruments like the bagpipe were declining in popularity during this era.

Daily life

Lighting and household items used

Lighting in simple homes was provided by oil lamps known as crassets or lamponnettes, or by candles inside glass lanterns. Metal, ceramic, or wooden cups were gradually replaced by glass drinking vessels.

What it cost

Cost of a pair of shoes

Shoes were expensive items that could cost a dagloner the equivalent of five days of hard work.