Almerei
An Almerei ( Rum . : armuroi , almuroi , armaroaie , Saxon : Umerau , Almeroachien ) is a small closet built into a wall niche in Transylvania . The word is derived from the Latin armarium (cupboard, shrine), or from the French armoire (cupboard, box). Until the 17th century, the term was generally used in Transylvania for a cabinet-like container. From the 18th century, the term was only used for paneled wall niches and hanging or corner cupboards, which were provided with a lockable door and mostly decorated with peasant paintings . The Almerei was mostly located in the parlor , the representative living room that was only used on public holidays and to receive guests. Valuable items were kept in it, such as religious books, jewelry, cash, but also liquor bottles that the master of the house wanted to keep safe from his wife and children.
Similar peasant wall cupboards are also common in the Bavarian-Austrian region.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Transylvania Museum Gundelsheim: Almerei (wall niche cladding)
- ↑ Aller-Leih: Closet "Almerei"
- ↑ Kronstadt Ethnographic Museum: Armuroi (Romanian)
- ^ Emil Sigerus Museum Sibiu: Colecţia de mobilier pictat şi obiecte de uz gospodăresc (Romanian)
- ↑ sevenbuerger.de: Forum - rare words