Meet the Middle Ages
BackBjörn the Founder
We know that Björn lived at the square in Kalmar in the year 1400. He might have been living there for a few years by then. The market-place was the most distinguished place to live in. Only wealthy people could afford to live there, so probably Björn had done very well for himself. He might have owned a large house, built of bricks.
Björn was married to Hillegund Witte. Hillegund came from a German merchant family. Many of her relatives lived in Kalmar. Hillegund helped Björn in his workshop.
Björn made the pots, spoons, dishes and jugs which were used for grand occasions. Only the rich could afford these. But most people had enough money to buy buttons, or a small tin cross from his workshop.
Björn died in 1407. Then Hillegund had to manage the workshop on her own. She employed a boy – Mathias Kristensen – as her assistant. In the annual ("Tänkeboken") of that year one can read that Hillegund lent money to a neighbour called Henrik, so we can assume that Hillegund was quite a rich woman.