Maria Isabel de Alcântara, Countess of Iguaçu

Maria Isabel de Alcântara Bourbon was the third daughter of Emperor Pedro I of Brazil and his mistress, Domitila de Castro, Marchioness of Santos.

Everyday clothing for children and workers

Children often went completely naked in their early years, while enslaved women working in fields or as laborers frequently wore only a simple shirt. In some urban settings, young girls began wearing skirts around age 6 to 11, with differences in style reflecting social status.

Festive attire and religious celebration traditions

During religious feast days, both men and women across social classes dressed in their finest attire, with women often wearing white and adorning their hair with natural flowers. In 1843, a formal masculine outfit for a festival in Belém included rosemary-colored cashmere trousers, a green frock coat, and a white gro de naples vest.

Common instruments in 19th-century homes

In the early 19th century, the viola and guitar were the most popular instruments for accompanying songs at home, while the piano only became more common in wealthy households from the 1830s onwards.

Music in religious festivals

Religious festivals often featured processions with choirs, orchestras, and traditional groups like congados, which were pantomimic folk dances of African origin.

Inspection fees paid in réis

Caravans crossing between Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro paid fees of 250 to 370 réis per mule to pass inspection points.

Mule trains took months to travel

Travelers often relied on long journeys by mule train that could take between two and three months to complete.

Eating Without Cutlery

Meals were often eaten without cutlery, using hands to shape manioc flour into balls, known as pirão, which were dipped into broth and meat.

Lack of Running Water and Sewage

Even in wealthy city homes, there was no piped water or sewage system; water was carried by enslaved people from public fountains or streams, while waste was often dumped into the street.

A cheap and common breakfast in cities

A common breakfast for many, available in city cafes, cost four vinténs and consisted of a cup of coffee and a small bread roll with rancid Irish butter.

Cassava flour and the pirão paste

Cassava flour was a staple eaten by all classes, often mixed with meat juices or broths to form a thick paste known as pirão, which was typically eaten with the fingers.