The furnishings of the Koerich “Stuff” are a rare example of life in rural Luxembourg: both the opulence of the décor and above all the excellent state of preservation of the pieces make it a remarkable exhibit. Saved from destruction in 1972, the ensemble allows visitors to imagine what a rural interior might have looked like in the late 18th century. It comes come from the “stuff” (“living room” in Luxembourgish) of a house called A Ludes in the village of Koerich. As the house it was built for was small, the furnishings of this room had to be versatile: it served as both a room to entertain guests and as a bedroom. The Koerich “Stuff” furnishings are exceptional because of their stylistic unity, even though not all of the elements were made by the same craftsman. The built-in bed, closed on one side by curtains and on the other by two doors, was crafted by cabinet-maker Frédéric Biver (died 1778) for his own use in the third quarter of the 18th century. The Rococo ornamentation that adorns the bed is characteristic of the mid-18th century. Around 1800, his son-in-law Guillaume Lamberjacques (1767/68-1836) added the heating cabinet (takeschaf), which is completely closed and surmounted by a clock.

The takeschaf is perfectly symmetrical, and the cabinet-maker even added a false hinge and imitation buttons on the doors to maintain the harmony of the whole. Straight lines and symmetry are early characteristics of Classicism, a style which began to dominate around 1800. Guillaume Lamberjacques, however, succeeded in integrating this new element into an already existing older ensemble. We should remember that this “stuff”, where the craftsmen probably received some of their customers, was also a kind of showcase of their expertise.

- Régis Moes