Cseri Miklós, Füzes Endre (szerk.): Ház és ember, A Szabadtéri Néprajzi Múzeum évkönyve 14. (Szentendre, Szabadtéri Néprajzi Múzeum, 2001)
ZENTAI TÜNDE: Az ágy és a népi alváskultúra a 14-16. században
Damage lists taken after the acts of violence at the end of the Middle-Ages mention bedclothes stolen from serfs: bed-sheets, mattresses, feather-cushions, pillowcases, bed linens. Feather-bed becomes widespread, its use among the common people is documented from the 13 th century (1276 in Baranya county) and is depicted on the wall of the round church of Dejte (Pozsony county) and in the book of Anjou Legendárium (1320-30). The mattress tilled with feather is part of the bed made on the floor as well (like in Kolozsvár in 1593). We find on the beds in poorhouses feather-bolsters, bed-sheets and blankets, as paintings from the 15 th — 16 th centuries prove it (Kassa, 1474-77, Bártfa 1480-85, Szmrecsán 1510). It seems that the catafalque is always covered with a bedsheet and there is always a white feather cushion on it (Anjou Legendárium, Lőcse, 1520). High-born people rested their heads on a feather cushion, and placed smaller and bigger pillows on it. Serfs were probably satisfied with one pillow. The bed-sheet is very big, hanging down from the bed, but smaller ones also exist already, similar in size to our bed-sheets and belonging to the bed with planks on the side. Ordinary people used wool blankets, which they wrapped around themselves when sleeping on the floor or on a bench, without bed-sheet. People sleeping on beds spread the blankets over themselves, much like today and often they took a bed-sheet under it. In the houses and rooms of the common people family members, servants, serfs used to sleep under the same roof. Married couples rested in one bed. We learn from the description of the act of violence against the serfs of Ganna (Veszprém county) that people used to sleep naked, which is - following medieval pictures - widespread amongst the rich having plenty of wann bedclothes. Based on critically evaluated evidences, we can reply with yes to the question whether ordinary homes had bedsteads at the end of the Middle-Age and the beginning the modern times. The variety of bedclothes and especially the use of feather bed from the 13 lh century postulate the necessity of some storing facility during the day. The level of rural houses makes the spreading of furniture and bedsteads from the 14 th — 15 th centuries on probably, which fact is more and more documented from the 16 th century. The appearance of the smoke free room with heating from outside was the background of the renewal of the interiors amongst the well-to-do villains.
