Painted Furniture

Furnishings from historical homes constitute an important part of the museum's collections. They demonstrate impressively how the rural areas took ideas from the cultural centers.

From the 16^th century onward furniture began to vary in function and form. After the chest, which in the Middle Ages constituted the only furniture used for storing possessions, the closet and side-board appeared in the 17^th century. More furniture developed in the 18^th century.

New research shows that there was also a considerable amount of painted furniture at that time. At the end of the 18^th century however, painted furniture became more and more unpopular in the Frisian area. The new classicist style was influenced by antique models. Older painted furniture was updated to serve the tastes of the time by removing the paint.
(Übersetzung: Isabella Erb)