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It’s our incredible good fortune that this room has been maintained in its original configuration through the many years of its existence. Here is where meals were prepared for the elegant owners and guests of the Villa Annoni. The presence of the large fireplace, the oven, and numerous stoves is an indication of the large number of people that the kitchen served. Hot water was provided by a tank placed above the oven and warmed by the same heat source. In addition to the large number of kitchen tools, you'll see items used by butchers, hunters, and fishermen. Also present in the kitchen are the tools of mattress makers and wool spinners, and a large loom which was used by weavers.
It’s almost certain that young people have never heard of a “prete” (literally “priest”) used for warming a bed on a cold winter night. The name has nothing to do with that sacred office, but rather refers to a lightweight wooden frame used to hold a copper pot containing hot embers. The prete was placed between the sheets to warm the bedding just before bedtime.
Each of the old trades used specialized methods and tools which require comprehensive analysis in order to develop a full understanding of the items on display. The butcher’s axes and mallets, and the sausage maker’s manual packing tools may seem a bit macabre, but they served useful and necessary functions in their time.
The tank used to transport milk, and the milk container, evoke a certain sense of nostalgia for an earlier, simpler time in our village history.
We usually associate traps with poachers, but at one time, these were the tools of proud hunters who brought home valuable meat and pelts for their families and community. Equipment such as fishing rods, baskets, and traps are still used to harvest wild game.
Elderly people are sure to remember the carding machines used to rework and soften the padding of mattresses after years of use. Wool winders and spinners are fascinating machines that were important to our ancestors. The quaint terminology associated with the ancient art of spinning is gradually being lost and is no longer heard in our villages. The same is true of the hand loom, which was often found in large kitchens. Cloth making was a common source of income for women who wanted to contribute to the family budget.
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Museo Storico Civico Cuggionese - p.iva e C.F. 03747870966