Gallery Samples Stories of our Ancestors | Page 34

It seems that the last Tiekiedraai of 1914 had marked the end of the freedom of the farm in
Riebeek East.
The story continues with the family coping with War and yet more children in PART 4.
In the meantime, almost as an Annex:
“Now let’s talk about the FURNITURE and FASHION” says Ruby
‘Most of the furniture was hard, solid wood. The main bedroom had to have a suite and a
complete set of stipulated items, such as a washstand with a marble top and splash back and
above it an elaborate wash basin and water jug and two matching soap dishes, one on either
side of the jug. A cupboard underneath the washstand had two doors which opened to reveal
two matching chamber pots. On one side of the stand stood a long brass jug for carrying hot
water and on the other a large bucket which was called the slop pale and that was for emptying
the used water into. Usually all these items matched.
‘There had to be a small chest of drawers for the man’s collars and small ‘fineries’ and a very
big chest of drawers with winged mirrors. A large double wardrobe with mirrors was essential
as it had to hold the heavy dresses and suits they wore. If the room was large enough it also
held a tin trunk for storage.
‘The couple would have a double bed, usually in black iron with brass knobs which had to be
cleaned and shone at least once weekly. When the couple were more affluent they might get a
full brass bed. On the arrival of the first baby there would be a cradle and then a cot which
would match the parent’s bed. The mattresses, usually two of them, were made of coir unless
they had access to an abundance of feathers in which case they would labour through the task
of making a feather mattress. The cover was a white quilt, usually in a coarse weave, with
fringes at the sides. The top pillow cases were beautifully embroidered and frilled and starched
and removed at night.
‘Dining room furniture was very big and heavy.’ (It’s not really worth going into all the details
of the furnishings as Ruby painstakingly described as we’ve all seen them in museums and at
least in photographs. There was not a great variety except in expense and style.)
Then Ruby spoke of the FASHIONS: ‘The women were rather elegant in their corsets and wasp
waists. The accomplishment of these waists was formidable. Firstly, it was boned and so rigid.
It wrapped round the woman’s body, hooked and eyed in front and then those two now-joined
pieces were tied together at the back with long tapes which had to be pulled and pulled by a
maid, until the required waist was achieved. Over this would be a camisole, like the top half of a
petticoat, which would be embroidered and laced and beribboned and then the first halfpetticoat. Eventually, the dress!
‘It appears that this was the daily routine of women whether they were going out or being
Mothers at home. I very much doubt whether they could keep this up behind closed doors.
‘The children also had to be smartly dressed for visiting or going-to-town occasions. Over their
pretty frilled petticoats and starched and bowed dresses there would be a pinafore, a plain one
for home and a beautiful one for going out. And in winter, deliciously warm coats made of
teddy-bear cloth. Boys usually wore sailor suits for best and had to sport a whistle, like a real
sea captain.’
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