The items on display in this museum were in use until the early 1950s in fishing, farming, carpentry and the daily life of the local lakeside communities. The items
on display are the result of decades of diligent research by Luigi Bertàmè, an expert on local history, who has dedicated his life to the ethnographic study of his place of origin.
Manifestazione storica a Garda (2018/2018) by GardaMuseiAssociazione culturale GardaMusei
La pieve di Garda (2018/2018) by GardaMuseiAssociazione culturale GardaMusei
Fisheries
On display in the centre of the room is a piece of the Pal del Vò, a flag pole, which until a few decades ago marked an area of the lake which was shallow and particularly rich in fish; this area called Secca del Vò and originally part of the fisheries of S. Virgilio, is the property of the guild of the “Antichi Originari”, the native inhabitants. In 1452 the Noble family of the Becelli of Costermano sold the rights to the inhabitants of Garda, Torri and Sirmione for the sum of 1000 gold ducats.
Fotografia storica Pal del Vo (2018/2018) by GardaMuseiAssociazione culturale GardaMusei
Sirmione withdrew from the guild in 1700 and their rights passed to Garda and Torri, who, in line with tradition, are still in possession of those rights to this very day. The tin flag at the top of the pole “Pal del Vò” reads “Corporazione degli Antichi Originari di Garda e Torri” “Guild of the native old families of Garda and Torri”, indicating the owners of the fishery rights. The descendents of the original owners, who had acquired the rights in 1452, are to this day members of the guild. Every year the rights are distributed among the fisherman of the Benaco region and any resulting income is divided among the descendants of the founder families.
La sala della pesca (2018/2018) by GardaMuseiAssociazione culturale GardaMusei
In the centre of the room there are several pieces of equipment for trawler fishing, long lines or long chains with artificial or live bait that could be wound onto a wooden cylinder (matros), or kept in a trunk (Tirlindana). These tools, introduced to the lake in 1850, have revolutionized fishing in that they allowed people who did not own expensive cotton nets to catch trout and the much sought-after salmo carpio, (a salmonid fish); both types of fish are native only to Lake Garda.
Contenitore per la conservazione del pesce fresco (2018/2018) by GardaMuseiAssociazione culturale GardaMusei
To conclude, there are two perforated containers (turbe), which were immersed in the water to keep the catch alive.
Vivaio a barchetta (2018/2018) by GardaMuseiAssociazione culturale GardaMusei
Pescatori sul lago (2018/2018) by GardaMuseiAssociazione culturale GardaMusei
Fiocina (2018/2018) by GardaMuseiAssociazione culturale GardaMusei
Farming
Although blessed with a large expanse of fertile land, local agriculture was characterized by small plots of land which were farmed for domestic use. Animals were employed to pull carts and ploughs, more often than not cows, in addition to supplying milk and calves, were used for this purpose.
Allevamento e agricoltura (2018/2018) by GardaMuseiAssociazione culturale GardaMusei
Scythes, wooden rakes and pitchforks were used for haymaking; hay was extremely important as it served as feed for the livestock. The farmer’s working year began in November with the fertilization of fields and sowing of wheat. It continued the following spring with the pruning of vines and olive trees: grapes and olives were the principle produce. April was the month for sowing maize. In early summer the wheat was harvested. The grape harvest followed in September and in November
the olive harvest concluded the year.
Carriola (2018/2018) by GardaMuseiAssociazione culturale GardaMusei
Giogo (2018/2018) by GardaMuseiAssociazione culturale GardaMusei
Cows and oxen were tied to a wooden yoke
Mortaio in legno (2018/2018) by GardaMuseiAssociazione culturale GardaMusei
Mola a pedale (2018/2018) by GardaMuseiAssociazione culturale GardaMusei
Object of daily life
Until the 1960s, family life centred mainly around two rooms located on two floors. Women and the older generations would spend the daytime hours in the kitchen downstairs, the sleeping quarters were upstairs. A single fireplace was the only form of heating; it was lit in the evenings to cook polenta with fish, and occasionally some meat. Smouldering embers were used to heat irons for ironing. Before retiring to bed on a cold winter’s night the red-hot remnants of the fire were placed in warming pans, which were first inserted in the preo, a protective cover box, and then slipped between the sheets to warm the chilly beds. The chair with one leg cut shorter allowed closer access to the fire and was mostly used by the older generations. Also on display are some wash boards called “banche”, which were employed on the shore of the lake.
Sala dell'artigianato e vita domestica (2018/2018) by GardaMuseiAssociazione culturale GardaMusei
Tostino (2018/2018) by GardaMuseiAssociazione culturale GardaMusei
Boule (2018/2018) by GardaMuseiAssociazione culturale GardaMusei
Lavatoio (2018/2018) by GardaMuseiAssociazione culturale GardaMusei
Sega a lama intelaiata (2018/2018) by GardaMuseiAssociazione culturale GardaMusei
The lake shores are rich in trees providing wood: oak, olive, willow, beech and, in higher altitudes, chestnut, larch and fir wood, to name but the most common ones. Carpenters chose the most suitable wood for their purposes. Baskets were made from willow reeds, the masts of the boats from “peccio” (fir wood), Fir wood panels also were used for shell-plating boats and for making and washboards. Wheelbarrows for transporting rocks were made from durable oak while the handles of scythes, rakes and pitchforks were made from ash. Yokes for animals were made from oak or ash. Furniture was made from walnut, cherry or fir wood. However, different types of wood were often used in combination: table legs were made from hard cherry wood, while the table tops were often made from fir wood. There are examples of all the items mentioned here as well as the tools required to make them. A large vice for working or gluing wood is on display in the centre of the room as well as various types of saw for cutting boards and tools for precision work.
Andrea Modena Fotografo
