Anne Sophie Reventlow

What people wore

Everyday clothing colors and materials

Peasant men wore non-dyed, greyish homespun clothes for everyday work, while women typically wore black or dark blue daily garments. Both genders commonly wore clogs for both everyday and festive activities.

Daily life

The transition to chimneys in peasant homes

Many peasant homes transitioned from having only an open fire on the floor to using a chimney, which helped clear the thick smoke that previously filled the living space.

Work

Common occupations in late 17th-century Denmark

Common jobs included day laborers who performed manual tasks like digging ditches and farm work, alongside craftsmen such as carpenters and stonemasons. Women commonly worked as washerwomen, domestic servants, and milkmaids, while children were often employed as servants or milkmaids.

Music

Village dance instruments

Village dances were often accompanied by traditional drone instruments such as the hurdy-gurdy, bagpipes, and violin-like instruments like the gige or fejle.

At the table

Everyday diet in Renaissance Copenhagen

In late 17th-century Copenhagen, residents consumed a varied diet consisting primarily of bread, porridge, and fish.

Getting around

Slow travel on primitive roads

Travel was slow due to poor road conditions, with wagons typically moving at a speed of about 4 kilometers per hour. A full day's journey on these primitive dirt roads generally spanned approximately 33 kilometers, equivalent to 4 Danish miles of the time.

What it cost

Rye bread price in the 1600s

In the 1600s, a pound of rye bread typically cost 1 to 2 skilling, though prices could rise significantly during grain shortages.