#Exhibit of the Month

This clay vessel was discovered in 1982 by archaeologist V. Sorochin during excavations of a burial mound (no. 1) located in the village of Speia, Dubăsari District. It originates from grave no. 5 and is dated to the 4th millennium BC, belonging to the Usatovo culture.
The vessel was found in a child's grave. The burial pit had an oval shape, and the deceased was laid in a crouched position (similar to the fetal posture), on the left side. A total of five vessels were uncovered in this grave: three near the back, one at the feet, and one in the pelvic area.
The cultural attribution of this funerary complex was determined based on the burial rite and grave goods. This culture is characterized by the specific construction of the burial pit, as well as the positioning and orientation of the deceased toward the east and northeast.

The vessel is shaped from clay mixed with finely crushed shell. Its walls curve gradually toward the top, with the widest diameter at the shoulder area. It has a short neck, a slightly flared rim, and a flat base. The surface is carefully polished, in some areas to a lustrous finish. The interior is reddish-brown, while the exterior is yellowish-brown with gray spots. The rim features groups of perforations, three of which are preserved in their original state. The diameter of the holes is 0.35 cm. The space between the groups of perforations is decorated with cord impressions. The transition from the neck to the shoulder is adorned with three horizontal lines made with cord, from which, in five places, three vertical lines descend, each 5 cm long, executed using the same technique. At the time of discovery, these lines were filled with a white paste. The space between the groups of lines is decorated at the top with short vertical lines (0.5 cm long), and in the center with a meander ornament made of two parallel lines impressed with cord. The base of the vessel retains the imprint of a textile.
Vessel dimensions: Height: 22 cm; Rim diameter: 15.7 cm; Maximum diameter: 22 cm; Base diameter: 10 cm.

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Exhibitions

"A Journey into the World of Mechanical Music" (Sound Playback Devices and Recording Media)

September 25, 2025 – September 1, 2026

With origins tracing back to antiquity, mechanical music has evolved over more than two millennia, incorporating the most advanced achievements in mechanics and natural sciences. It has captivated scientists, engineers, masters of precision mechanics, renowned musical instrument makers, and watchmakers alike.

The creative interplay between art and technology gave rise to mechanical musical instruments-devices that reproduce music through autonomous or assisted processes, using mechanisms that read a musical score inscribed on a medium and are powered by wind, hydraulic, or electric energy.

The National Museum of History of Moldova holds a significant collection of automatic musical devices and analogue audio records-over 1,000 pieces produced across Europe, America, and Asia, dating from the late 19th century to the 1990s. Showcasing this collection is essential to making it accessible to the public, sparking curiosity, knowledge, and appreciation for global cultural heritage.

The exhibition A Journey into the World of Mechanical Music invites visitors on a visual and auditory exploration of mechanically operated musical instruments, which have long served as powerful expressions of societal identity. It features a representative selection of over 200 objects of historical, scientific, artistic, and commemorative value from the museum's collection, complemented by key pieces from Igor Prescura's private collection. Together, they offer valuable insights into the evolution of sound recording and playback-from pin cylinders to magnetic tape.

The exhibition highlights mechanical music playback devices-music boxes, clocks and interior objects with musical mechanisms, harmoniums, gramophones, phonographs, turntables, reel-to-reel tape recorders, and cassette players. Through their performance, charm, and elegance, these instruments captivated generations. Each object, removed from its original functional context, is presented both for immediate visual appreciation-emphasizing its beauty and decorative qualities-and in associative relation to the exhibition's conceptual narrative.

The project also explores the development of music storage and playback media, with special attention given to the analogue disc. Invented in the late 19th century by Emile Berliner, the disc underwent continuous improvements in durability, size, rotation speed, capacity, and playback fidelity, becoming the cornerstone of the music industry throughout most of the 20th century. The unmistakable sound of records released by renowned labels such as Columbia Records, Parlophon Records, Odeon Records, Favorite Record, Edison Bell Record, Lifa Record, Perfection Concert Record, Electrecord, Balkanton, Bellaccord Electro, Melodia, and others, sets the tone for the entire exhibition journey.

Informative and illustrative materials complement the exhibition narrative, presenting key discoveries in the field of mechanical music, the names of pioneering inventors, and the typological diversity of automatic music devices that have become emblematic of the evolution of sound recording and playback.