#Exhibit of the Month

German porcelain is highly prized among antique collectors for its exceptional material quality, originality, and the meticulous craftsmanship of its decorative design.
The museum's collection preserves five figurines from one of the oldest porcelain manufactories in the Thuringia region of Germany - the statuary group known as *"The Musicians"*, crafted at the Volkstedt manufactory. These pieces entered the museum's holdings in 1991, acquired from a resident of Chișinău. With undeniable historical and artistic value, they bear the distinct imprint of the Rococo style.
The Volkstedt manufactory has a long-standing tradition in producing figurines, including those depicting musicians. In 1760, Georg Heinrich Macheleid - inventor of hard-paste porcelain in Thuringia - founded a production workshop in Zitzendorf, which was relocated to Volkstedt in 1762. Macheleid led the manufactory until 1764. Over time, the factory changed ownership and management multiple times. Under the direction of Christian Nonne, it flourished between 1767 and 1797, a period marked by significant artistic development. Volkstedt began creating figurines that would later gain international recognition.
It was during this flourishing period that the museum's porcelain statuettes, titled *"The Musicians"*, were produced. They depict five “putti”: four playing musical instruments (flute, mandolin, horn, and pipe), while the fifth conducts. Each figurine is entirely handcrafted - from modeling to painting - and delicately adorned with pastel tones and gilded details, capturing the playful movement and refined artistry of each musician. The base is made of mass-colored porcelain in a rare grey-green hue. The contrast between green, white, and gold accents lends the ensemble an unusually delicate appearance. These ornamental features are characteristic of the Rococo style, which emerged in France and is closely associated with the reign of King Louis XV.

The mark applied to the figurines consists of two crossed forks, clearly rendered in underglaze blue, with slightly blurred paint - a detail that helps date their production. Because the crossed forks often resembled the crossed swords of the Meissen trademark, the Volkstedt manufactory was compelled to change its mark starting in 1787. Initially represented by a single fork, the mark briefly returned to two forks before being replaced in 1800 by the graphic symbol "R", referencing the town of Rudolstadt. Therefore, the brief period during which the two-fork mark was reinstated - and during which the museum's figurines were likely produced - is estimated to be between 1787 and 1800.

The statuettes range in height from 10 to 18 cm and are preserved in relatively good condition.

These late 18th-century German porcelain pieces, now on display, are exceptionally rare. They stand as true works of art by German craftsmen and serve as important historical testimonies to the evolution of porcelain manufacturing in Germany.

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Exhibitions

“European Moldova”

August 11, 2025 – January 31, 2026

The exhibition is dedicated to the National Holidays-Independence Day and Romanian Language Day-and presents an impressive selection of photographic images reflecting the process of European association and integration of the Republic of Moldova. The exhibition opening will take place on August 26, 2025, at 11:00 AM, in Exhibition Hall No. 1 of the National Museum of History of Moldova.

The proclamation of the Republic of Moldova's state independence on August 27, 1991, marked the beginning of a new era in the political, socio-economic, and cultural development of the young state. The Republic of Moldova firmly set out on the path of reform and progress, confirming its commitment to building a democratic society based on the rule of law and respect for human dignity and rights, as well as its aspiration to align with the values of the European Union.

The deepening of cooperation with the European Union began with the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement of 1994, followed by the Action Plan of 2005, and continued with the signing of the Association Agreement between the Republic of Moldova and the European Union on June 27, 2014. This agreement laid the foundations for stronger political association and economic integration, promoting shared values and enhanced cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

On March 3, 2022, the Republic of Moldova submitted its application for accession to the European Union, and on June 23, 2022, the European Council recognized Moldova's European perspective and granted it the status of EU candidate country.

Following the constitutional referendum of October 20, 2024, and the decision of the Constitutional Court on December 13, 2024, the objective of Moldova's accession to the European Union was introduced into the Constitution of the Republic of Moldova. Thus, the country's supreme law-the Constitution-reaffirmed the European identity of the Moldovan people and the irreversibility of its European path, declaring integration into the European Union as a strategic objective of the Republic of Moldova.

The achievement of this objective requires sustained efforts from the political class, civil society, and all state institutions, including cultural figures and institutions that promote European values and contribute to raising awareness throughout society of the necessity of European integration for a peaceful, democratic, and prosperous future for the Republic of Moldova and its citizens.

The exhibition "European Moldova" aims to promote and strengthen the sense of belonging to the European Union and the citizens' attachment to European values.

The exhibition brings together approximately 100 photographic images that reflect the historical journey of the Republic of Moldova from the proclamation of independence to the signing and implementation of the EU-Moldova Association Agreement.

Various sections of the exhibition highlight political and cultural events, visits by high-ranking European officials who expressed support for Moldova's European path, artistic ensembles, and prominent personalities who promote Europe's democratic and cultural values.

The images presented in the exhibition are sourced from the collections of the National Museum of History of Moldova and the personal archive of photojournalist Mihai Vengher.

#Exhibit of the Month

The Statuary Group “The Musicians”

“European Moldova”

August 11, 2025 – January 31, 2026

#Exhibit of the Month