Kovács Zsuzsa: Göcsej Village Museum. Exhibition Guide (Zalaegerszeg, 2008)

Paraffin lamp The paraffin lamp hanging above the table with the paraffin burning in it counted as not only a new but also a more expensive form of lighting. Undoubtedly it gave more brightness than the previous lights thus when girls got together in the 'fonó' (a room where they did spinning) and worked beside the paraffin lamp, finally they all gave money to the host for the paraffin. These lamps were in use till the 1960s when electricity was introduced into the village. After that people only used paraffin lamps in the pantries and stables. This example here was used until 1965. In the room, around the table we see chairs with so-called 'violin-backs' and 'drilled-in legs', there is a tulip chest in the corner, a rod hanging above the bed to keep clothes on; these are all characteristic parts of a traditional 19th century room. One of the oldest bits here is the 'almárium' (a small piece of furniture). 'Almárium' This piece of furniture from the 19th century is very characteristic of this region, its called 'almárium' or 'ómárium' and usually placed in the corner of the room. It had a simple or painted door and normally two shelves to store 'pálinka', wine, small objects and papers. This one in the Zalalövő house is from Pálfiszeg. Its owner used it till 1962 in his thatched house and it was always hanging from the wall in the corner above the bench. Next to the room there is a kitchen used by both families, there is an oven in the corner and the cooking pots placed in a line upside down. Behind these there is a big, round straw bushel.