Els objectes de la vida quotidiana a les llars barcelonines al començament del segle XIV

Abstract

We studied several inventories of the possessions of dead people, drawn up in Barcelona during the first decade of the XIVth century. This analysis wants to make a list of the current objects of the people who lived Barcelona and who belonged to the middle social stratum of the population. In the first place, we find a great diversity of boxes meant to contain things. There were many cloths -to saw garments or for household purposes, and more precisely for the bedding. Beside the beds -made of planks or boards and mattresses-, there was no lack, in the houses, of tables, which often were folding, and, to sit down, chairs, benches or seats. We also notice, though they are less numerous, kitchen utensils (grills, boilers, pans and spits; spoons, platters and plates). We also see a wide range of weapons, from mere spears to catapults. As a matter of fact, they gave importance to observation indicators to deduce the position of the moon. There were also plenty of tourniquets to bleed and, in rich people houses, we also find bath-tubs. Luxury objects were very common, namely precious gems set in gold rings and silver spoons and goblets. Musical instruments and objects of devoutness were, on the contrary, almost non-existent. Books are hard to find, except for some account books. It is interesting to see that the people had plenty of candles and lanterns; we also find cissors, scythes or pincers and, above all, scales. The paraphernalia of the mules es commonly found and mainly consisted of packsaddle, pommels, jaws and sometimes even baskets.