The Fruit Storehouse of Polovragi, Gorj County

Built in 1883 in Polovragi, in the county of Gorj, and transferred to the museum in 1967, this two-storey fruit storehouse is representative of the traditional architecture of Gorj fruit-growing regions, where the production of plum brandy is a widespread craft. 

Despite its utilitarian role, the building makes expressive use of wood and local carving techniques, which are characteristic of northern Oltenia craftsmen.

Known as a pimniță in the local dialect, the storehouse is located on a slope and comprises a stone-built cellar bound with quick lime. The cellar was used for fermenting plums and for storage. 

The first floor, which is made up of horizontal fir beams, is used to store brandy barrels and other containers for picking plums, as well as wooden vessels for transporting brandy from the cellar. Until recently, a long-handled ladle made from a gourd was used to remove the brandy from the barrel. Another traditional item is the large funnel carved from soft wood, known as a neleiu.

The porch is adorned with carved pillars and surrounded by a railing composed of planks joined by grooves. The double doors at the entrance and the massive staircase, carved from a single tree trunk, emphasise the robust and sober quality of the construction.