Weberberg

Audio:

Biberach flourished into a prosperous town during the Middle Ages, mainly due to the production and trade of fustian, a mixed fabric of flax or linen and imported cotton. Weavers had to bring their fabric to the town hall for inspection at the "Barchentschau", where they received an official seal of quality.

Video:

Look here, truly, this morning I weave, I work; I take a hundred orders, bring my fabric for inspection. And what do I get? Ox, no, lion, no, grape, no - the wretched seal of them all, the „note“! All for a few knots! And for this, I must pay the highest display fee!

Times are already hard. My fabric is now sold for next to nothing. Some cut it into pieces. And I have to start my laborious work all over again! The fabric stays in the town and isn‘t exported to distant lands.

The reputation of our town of Biberach in fustian weaving is well-known. From Augsburg and Ulm, throughout Europe to Antwerp, London, Valencia, and Venice. Trading this fabric brings great prosperity to the town.

All that labour, all those hours in the damp weaving cellar, by hand and barefoot, and for what?! We weavers live ten to a room. And only the merchants get rich.

Oh, my dear husband! Stop complaining! It's always the same story! What choice do poor folks like us have but to start working again immediately? We carry God's poverty in our pockets! Come, sit back at the loom right away! I'm not allowed to.

You hear that? So, I'll take the more expensive yarn after all. There won't be much profit left. But I must go; work calls. Farewell to you all!