#Exhibit of the Month

Bronze cauldrons of the Scythian time are rare in the Northern Black Sea region, especially on its western borders. Therefore, those few items found on the territory of the Republic of Moldova occupy a worthy place in the collection of the National Museum of History of Moldova (NMHM). In particular, in the archaeological exhibition, two bronze cauldrons are displayed, discovered near the village of Nicolscoe in 1988 in burial mounds no. 14 and 15. In addition, in 2020, two bronze cauldrons without any accompanying documents were found in the collection of NMHM; however, they were visually identified as coming from various excavations in the Low Dniester region, such as burial mound no. 45 near Dubăsari and burial mound no. 1 near the Răscăieții Noi village.

The object presented as the exhibit of the month is a little-known find discovered in 1979 in barrow 1 near the village of Răscăieții Noi in the Ștefan Vodă district. In addition to its outstanding size (about 10 m high), this mound is known for discovering a cast bronze finial in the Scythian animal style on its surface in 1953. However, by the beginning of excavations, the locals had damaged part of the mound and a Scythian cast bronze cauldron was found near it. The cauldron was seriously damaged by mechanical impact, as a result of which the rim was deformed, and the walls, with one preserved vertical handle, were bent inwards. Fragments in the upper part of the body and one handle have been lost. The total reconstructed height of the cauldron is 24 cm (excluding the handles), the reconstructed diameter of the hemispherical cauldron is 30 cm, and the weight is 6.5 kg. In 2020, data on the chemical composition of the bronze cauldron alloy were obtained, revealing that it was cast from an alloy of almost 95 per cent copper. Unfortunately, due to the loss of information on the context of the discovery of the cauldron at Răscăieții Noi, it is impossible to link its discovery with one or another Scythian burial of the barrow. Moreover, the grave goods of other Scythian burials of Barrow 1 do not allow them to date below the 4th century BC. However, the cauldron with vertical handles from Răscăieții Noi most likely belongs earlier. This may be indicated by a bronze finial from the first half of the 5th century BC, which was found on this barrow in 1953. In addition, burial 7 from the nearest excavated barrow 2 at Răscăieții Noi, containing a plaque depicting a rolled predator (a copy of which is also on display at the NMHM), belongs to the mid- 5th century BC. Thus, there is a high probability that the cauldron from Barrow 1 at Răscăieții Noi is associated with the late Middle Scythian period or the mid-5th century BC.

Scythian bronze cauldrons in the west area are concentrated in three main regions: Bukovina-Podolia, the Lower Danube, and the Lower Dniester. Some Scythian cauldrons have no reliable archaeological context. Nevertheless, in combination with the same "stray" finds like the Scythian statues, the finds of Scythian cauldrons mark the Scythian presence, most likely not earlier than the late 6th century or even the turn of the 6th-5th centuries BC. The cauldrons first appeared in Bukovina, where they have been known since the middle of the 7th century BC. Bronze cauldrons (with their carriers) entered the steppe region 150-200 years later, and the "military" burials that appeared in the western steppe regions were no earlier than the middle of the 5th century BC. Most burials with cauldrons (and, apparently, the stray finds) are dated back to the second half of the 5th century BC. Then, in the early 4th century BC, their quantity was reduced, and after the first quarter of the 4th century BC, they completely disappeared from the cultural practice of the population of the steppes of the North-Western Black Sea region.

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Exhibitions

“Ion Tabîrtă. In memoriam”

March 28, 2024 - April 28, 2024

The National Museum of History of Moldova announces the opening of the graphic and painting exhibition "Ion Tâbîrță. In memoriam", which includes about 50 works of the visual artist, some of which are exhibited to the public for the first time. The opening of the exhibition will take place on March 28, at 16:00 in Hall 1.

Ion Tăbîrță was born on August 2, 1930 in the village of Hlinaia, Slobozia, Republic of Moldova, in a peasant family. In the years 1937-1946 he studied at the school in his native village. In the years 1946-1951 he studied at the School of Fine Arts "I. Repin" from Chisinau (currently the Republican College of Fine Arts "Al. Plămădeala"). In the years 1951-1954 he was a painter within the Plastic Fund of the Union of Plastic Artists from Moldova. He studied at the Institute of Fine Arts in Kiev (1954-1960) in the class of the famous professor V. Casian, where he studied different graphic techniques: linocut, lithography, xylography, etchings, engraving on cardboard and others.

From 1960 to 1963 he was a teacher at the "I. Repin". In 1962, he became a member of the Union of Plastic Artists from Moldova, and actively participated in all exhibitions abroad. Since 1964 he has been a member of the board of directors of the Union of Plastic Artists from Moldova, and since 1968 he has been the president of the U.P.A. section. from Moldova. From 1962 until 1969, he was the director of the School of Plastic Arts for children "A. Sciusev" from Chisinau.

The artist carries out a fruitful activity as an organizer of education in the field of art. In 1969, the middle-boarding Republican School of Fine Arts opens (currently the "I. Vieru" Republican High School of Fine Arts). An indisputable merit in the organization of this high school belongs to I. Tăbîrță. In the years 1969-1977, he was director of the medium-boarding Republican School of Plastic Arts in Chisinau.

In the years 1977-1979 Ion Tăbîrță is the chief painter of the Plastic Fund of the U.P.A. from Moldova, and in 1979-1983 he was the head of the drawing and painting department of the Faculty of Fine Arts and Graphics of the "Ion Creangă" State Pedagogical Institute (currently the "Ion Creangă" Pedagogical University). In 1980, he was awarded the honorary title of Emeritus Worker of Culture from R.S.S.M.

In the years 1983-1988 he was the director of the National Museum of Plastic Arts of Moldova. In the years 1988-1990 he was director of the Republican High School of Fine Arts "I. Vieru". In 1990, he was awarded the honorary title "Teacher of the People of the Russian Federation". In the years 1990-1994 he was deputy director of the "I. Vieru".

During his activities, the painter creates series of works such as the series of paintings "At the tractor factory" which constitute almost 40 works, representing a chronicle of the factory, the series of linocuts: "Spring", "Maternity", "Peace", " We, the first" and other works in etchings: "Moldovians", "Bulgarians", "Blestem", "Pe costiș", "Mihai Eminescu" "Luceafărul", "A. Mateevici", "Spiritul nostru", "Lands of Moldova". Ion Tăbîrță also tackles the historical theme, creating faces of historical personalities: V. Lupu, D. Cantemir, and others. He works in the field of landscape, representing various places in the city of Chisinau. The artist also practices watercolor, performing a series of works in the cities of Câmpina, Timișoara (Romania) and Moșino (Ukraine).

The master's works have been exhibited in more than 20 countries, many works are in the collection of fine arts museums, art galleries in the Republic of Moldova and abroad.

Exhibition of graphics and painting "Ion Tâbîrță. In memoriam" can be visited between March 28 - April 28, 2024, in Hall 1 of the National Museum of History of Moldova, Chisinau, str. 31 August 1989, 121A.

#Exhibit of the Month

Scythian bronze cauldron from Răscăieții Noi

“Ion Tabîrtă. In memoriam”

March 28, 2024 - April 28, 2024

#Exhibit of the Month