Esther M. Lederberg
Peasant Hut, by V. Perov

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What does an actual 19th century peasant hut look like? Photographs of an actual peasant hut, taken at Suzdal, Russia.

Perov's view of a peasant hut is quite accurate, but the Peasant huts at Suzdal are not entirely accurate. Only a very few peasants were wealthy enough to have glass windows. Windows were usually made of sheets of Muscovite mica, or used animal bladders stretched very thin, allowing light to pass through, thus acting as a translucent window. Houses also had wicker-like woven fences around them. Peasants also used wood as a means to join wood together (dove-tailing or dowel nails), not prohibitively expensive iron nails.

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