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The symmetrical composition of the sofa set is
accented by the painting that is above them. Produced
during the first half of the 19th century, it shows the
ancient Gauja River valley.
The samovar with its little chimney, the porcelain
service with blue cobalt decorations under the glaze,
other dishes in the room – these speak to table
setting traditions during the 19th century. The
samovar was used not just in the Russian Empire and
its “ethnic periphery,” but also throughout Central
and Eastern Europe, including, Denmark, Austria,
Germany, and those countries in which the culture of
those lands was of importance. As western cultures
became wealthier during the 19th century, new and
modern elements appeared in the interiors of the
estate governor’s home and in everyday life. As the
cultural and household traditions of Germans and
Latvians commingled, they gradually became a part of
the lives of Latvian farmers, as well.
A samovar manufactured at the Alyenchikov
workshop in Moscow, mid-19th century
TURAIDAS MUIŽA
The hall or living room
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