Chiojdu Mic household, Buzău, 18th century
The yeoman Anghelache Codescu's household from Chiojdu Mic, dated at the beginning of the 18th century, was reconstructed in the Village Museum in 1936. Originating from the sub-Carpathian area of Buzău, it is representative for the monumental folk architecture developed in the region and illustrates the flourishing economic state of its inhabitants, interested in orcharding and sheepherding.
The dwelling is built on an imposing river stone base, which houses the basement and a tool and food shed. An external side staircase climbs to the housing level, in front of which the side porch with fretted railing and the veranda with carved pillars opens. Here, the walls are made of narrow fir beams, placed horizontally and ended in saddle notches. The steeped hipped roof has the covering made of pointed shingles, placed in “fish scales”.
The house consists of a foyer (“hall”), a living room (“the small chamber”) and a guest room (“the large chamber”). In the foyer and “the small chamber”, one can note the various objects specific to the pastoral life: the pots for milk processing (wooden pails, milk buckets), the alpenhorn wrapped in cherry bark (traditional signaling instrument, used by shepherds), the tub for cheese making, etc. The urban style furniture (beds, a table, a chair), the cotton weavings decorated with flowers and birds, the lively coloured rugs and carpets, made from wool, the dowry chests (including the famous “Brașov” chest painted in blue, red, and green), the carved distaffs, the geometrically carved box for papers, the pottery from Calvini or Țoca are just a few of the objects that adorn the guest room.
Near the house, one can also notice a wooden tub, a large stave container in which the fruits for brandy fermented. The household includes three pens (for pigeons, poultry and the dog).
