Painting cattle
At the time of serfdom in Lippe, Malvieh was the name given to the animals that the farmer had to hand over to the landlord in kind . The Malvieh consisted of cows, sheep or pigs selected by authorized representatives of the landlord and a time were provided. These animals, which are usually the best, had to be handed over to the landlord at a certain point in time. It happened that a farmer was punished for hiding the painting cattle.
The time of serfdom in Lippe lasted around 300 years and was abolished by Princess Pauline in 1808. The serf peasant could own movable property but not acquire real estate and was tied to the land that belonged to a noble landowner or to the church. He ran the farm with the obligation to pay different taxes to the landlord. These taxes consisted mainly of natural produce, but also of compulsory services , which mostly had to be performed on Fronhöfe or Salhöfen. The landlord was in turn obliged to protect the serfs and to take care of them.