#Exhibit of the Month

The music is recorded on a cylinder with pins. The interior is divided into three compartments: the first contains the crank and the mechanism that operates the cylinder with pins, the second - the cylinder with pins and vibrating lamellae, and the third - two levers for starting and stopping the melody. The cylinder holds seven melodies by W.A. Mozart, which are played through the vibration of steel teeth arranged in a comb, whose tips are adjacent to the cylinder. The lid of the box features floral marquetry on its outer surface. This cultural asset is classified under the "Tezaur" category.

The Story of Musical Boxes

Musical boxes originated in Switzerland at the end of the 18th century. In 1796, watchmaker Antoine Favre-Salomon invented a pocket watch with an incorporated musical mechanism, using the principle of tuned metal lamellae. The invention quickly spread, soon leading to the creation of musical boxes independent of watches.

Initially invented and built for the salon entertainment of the aristocracy, musical boxes quickly evolved, capturing the market and public interest with these entertainment machines. The musical box industry was predominantly centered in Switzerland. Geneva remains the cradle of the musical box, even though the art of crafting these musical wonders spread to other regions of Switzerland - such as Jura, Auberson, and Sainte Croix - and later to other countries, including France, Germany, and Czechoslovakia. Some of the most notable manufacturers of musical boxes include: Mermod Frères, Paillard, Reuge, Thorens, Cuendet, Junod, Nicole Frères, Ducommun-Girod, Brémond, and L'Epee.

The musical box operated on a relatively simple principle: a cylinder with pins (cylindrical pins) would, through rotation, actuate a metal "comb" tuned to specific musical notes, both being concealed from view in one of the box's compartments. By turning the cylinder - with the help of a spring mechanism (similar to that of watches) - the pins would strike the steel "teeth" of the comb, causing them to vibrate and produce different musical notes. A musical box could have a limited number of melodies "programmed" onto the cylinder - from 4 to 12.

Over time, the cylinders were replaced with interchangeable metal discs. Based on this operating principle, large musical boxes emerged in cafés and taverns, which could be activated by inserting a coin, allowing users to select their preferred disc.

Besides the ingenious mechanism, musical boxes also stood out for the artistry of their exterior decorations, featuring materials such as precious woods, mother-of-pearl, ivory, and metal.

The decline of musical boxes began with the invention of the phonograph (1877) and the gramophone (1887). Production continued for a while, but by the early 20th century, most renowned companies had abandoned the business and started manufacturing other mechanical musical instruments.

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Exhibitions

“Politicians”

Caricature Exhibition by Journalist and Caricaturist Anatol Fornea

August 29 - September 25, 2024

The National Museum of History of Moldova announces the opening of the caricature exhibition "Politicians" by Anatol Fornea, which will take place on August 29, 2024, at 4:00 PM. The exhibition will be open to the public from August 29 to September 25, 2024, and will be hosted in the lobby on the ground floor of the museum.

On the occasion of Moldova's Independence Day, Anatol Fornea presents the caricature exhibition "Politicians," focusing on emblematic political figures from Moldova. The exhibition highlights both praise and critique of those who have influenced the national political scene. A distinctive feature of this exhibition is the absence of direct identification of the politicians, allowing visitors to make associations through details such as the color of the ties, which correspond to the represented political parties.

Anatol Fornea, a caricaturist, journalist, and TV presenter from Moldova, was born on July 19, 1998, in Chișinău. He graduated from the School of Fine Arts for Children "Alexei Șciusev" and the Faculty of Journalism and Communication Sciences at Moldova State University (USM), where he later earned a master's degree in Communication Sciences. Fornea is also known as the host of the interview show "Dialoguri Colorate" broadcasted on TVR Moldova, where he creates portraits of guests at the end of each discussion.

The exhibition is part of a broader project by the artist, which aims to create caricature portraits of personalities from various fields of activity in Moldova.

The "Politicians" caricature exhibition can be visited from August 29 to September 25, 2024, at the National Museum of History of Moldova, Chișinău, 31 August 1989 Street 121A.