Page 132 - Panjek, Aleksander, Jesper Larsson and Luca Mocarelli, eds. 2017. Integrated Peasant Economy in a Comparative Perspective: Alps, Scandinavia and Beyond. Koper: University of Primorska Press
P. 132
integr ated peasant economy in a compar ative perspective
were produced. To make the most common fleece blanket, a two-person
blanket, they needed the skins from six sheep. Most household members
had their own blankets, and a wealthy household had fleece blankets for
guests. In fact, households manifested their wealth by the number of fleece
blankets they had and often displayed them in the home. Additional bed-
ding was required, and the tanners from Malung also made sheets and pil-
low cases out of hides. Many other commodities and garments were also
made from hides, such as sacks for flour, jackets, and other fur clothing
(Matsson 1976).
The exclusive districts where skinners and tanners worked were scat-
tered over a large area covering most of central Sweden and part of Nor-
way. Hülphers (1762) wrote that 300 to 400 people left Malung Parish with
the teams every year in autumn and did not return until spring, when they
would grow crops. They received money for their work, but payments could
also be in kind as well as hides they brought back to complete and sell. The
teams consisted of a master, farmhands, apprentices, and boys.
3.4 Firewood, charcoal, and transportation
Before 1750, charcoal and firewood production was the main activity outsi-
de agriculture in many parishes. This production was more pronounced in
areas closer to the intense mining and ironwork area called Bergslagen and
the large copper mountain in Falun. In some ways, production continued
into the 20th century. The parishes of Järna, Nås, and Floda along Väster-
dal River (Västerdalälven) produced an enormous amount of firewood for
the mine in Falun. Trees were cut down during winter, then taken by stre-
ams to Västerdal River and floated to Falun in the spring. Charcoal, on the
other hand, was most commonly transported on land by sledges in the win-
ter. It was also possible to put the charcoal on rafts and transport by river to
Tuna, where it was unloaded for further transport to Falun (Hülphers 1762).
The peasants also worked in transportation and charcoal produc-
tion outside their home parishes. Peasants from Gagnef Parish went to
the southern part of Dalarna, around Ludvika, to make charcoal and do
transportation work at the iron works. Peasants from Leksand Parish trav-
elled during winter to ironworks and mines for transportation work. At
the mine in Falun, they also chopped wood and produced charcoal (Hül-
phers 1762). Peasants in Rättvik Parish received cash for transporting ore
between mines and ironworks in neighbouring parishes, but also went fur-
ther south. All secondary occupations in Ore Parish stayed within the par-
130
were produced. To make the most common fleece blanket, a two-person
blanket, they needed the skins from six sheep. Most household members
had their own blankets, and a wealthy household had fleece blankets for
guests. In fact, households manifested their wealth by the number of fleece
blankets they had and often displayed them in the home. Additional bed-
ding was required, and the tanners from Malung also made sheets and pil-
low cases out of hides. Many other commodities and garments were also
made from hides, such as sacks for flour, jackets, and other fur clothing
(Matsson 1976).
The exclusive districts where skinners and tanners worked were scat-
tered over a large area covering most of central Sweden and part of Nor-
way. Hülphers (1762) wrote that 300 to 400 people left Malung Parish with
the teams every year in autumn and did not return until spring, when they
would grow crops. They received money for their work, but payments could
also be in kind as well as hides they brought back to complete and sell. The
teams consisted of a master, farmhands, apprentices, and boys.
3.4 Firewood, charcoal, and transportation
Before 1750, charcoal and firewood production was the main activity outsi-
de agriculture in many parishes. This production was more pronounced in
areas closer to the intense mining and ironwork area called Bergslagen and
the large copper mountain in Falun. In some ways, production continued
into the 20th century. The parishes of Järna, Nås, and Floda along Väster-
dal River (Västerdalälven) produced an enormous amount of firewood for
the mine in Falun. Trees were cut down during winter, then taken by stre-
ams to Västerdal River and floated to Falun in the spring. Charcoal, on the
other hand, was most commonly transported on land by sledges in the win-
ter. It was also possible to put the charcoal on rafts and transport by river to
Tuna, where it was unloaded for further transport to Falun (Hülphers 1762).
The peasants also worked in transportation and charcoal produc-
tion outside their home parishes. Peasants from Gagnef Parish went to
the southern part of Dalarna, around Ludvika, to make charcoal and do
transportation work at the iron works. Peasants from Leksand Parish trav-
elled during winter to ironworks and mines for transportation work. At
the mine in Falun, they also chopped wood and produced charcoal (Hül-
phers 1762). Peasants in Rättvik Parish received cash for transporting ore
between mines and ironworks in neighbouring parishes, but also went fur-
ther south. All secondary occupations in Ore Parish stayed within the par-
130
