#Exhibit of the Month

Buckles (paftale) are an almost indispensable element of traditional women's dress in the Southeastern European area, particularly in the Balkans, and have been in use over a long period, from the 14th to the 20th century.
The word pafta is of Turkic origin-possibly entering the language via Iranian influence-derived from the Persian word bafta, meaning "woven," which evolved in Turkish to signify "plate." Today, the term is used in nearly identical forms in Romanian (pafta), Bulgarian (пафта), Serbian (пафте), and some Aromanian dialects (pafta), designating functional and ornamental clothing accessories used to fasten belts, girdles, or sashes, crafted from various materials and decorated using different techniques.
The three buckles decorated in the polychrome enamel technique, preserved in the collection of the National Museum of History of Moldova, belong to the South-Danubian tradition and are dated to the late 19th - early 20th century.

Each buckle consists of two identical trapezoidal parts, their surfaces divided into three roughly equal registers, adorned with stylized vegetal motifs forming a metal lattice into which enamel is poured. The two parts extend into sharp angles at the ends, forming a triangle with the edge of the last decorative register, similarly ornamented. The enamel used to fill the floral motifs is black, turquoise, white, orange, green, yellow, and burgundy. The entire decorative field is framed by a beaded border.

On the reverse, both components retain a copper band riveted along the edge, used to fasten the ends of the belt. The fastening system, made by interlocking the hinges of the two parts and secured with a movable pin attached by a chain to a clasp fixed on one of the buckle pieces, is concealed by a rectangular plate (riveted with three pins to the body of the piece), with narrow edges ending in sharp angles, decorated in the same style and technique. Additionally, it features three circular settings with notched edges bent inward to hold centrally placed red and green glass paste. These settings are framed by a radiant, notched band.

The symbolism of the color palette encodes meanings and symbols, chosen for their believed magical powers. Red has always represented love, affection, and protection against curses and the evil eye; white symbolizes purity and spiritual and physical cleanliness; blue is symbolically associated with infinity, morning, new beginnings, and transformation; green represents destiny, hope, prosperity, balance, and rebirth, being linked to nature's revival each spring and to life itself.

Virtual Tour

Exhibitions

„Republic of Moldova in philately: history and culture”

Dedicated to the Independence Day

August 25th– September 7th, 2014

Philately, part of cultural inheritance, is and will remain a representative element of the country's image into the world. The stamp, a true ambassador of history and traditions, of cultural, national and universal moral values is rightfully considered at international level one of national symbols along with the flag, coat of arms, hymn and coin.

Exhibition „Republic of Moldova in philately: history and culture”

The body responsible for the issue, circulation and retreat from circulation of postal stamps in the Republic of Moldova from 1992 on, after accession to the Universal Postal Union, is the Ministry of Information Technology and Communications. Printing and publishing philatelic material is charged to the State Enterprise "Poșta Moldovei".

The first postal stamps of Republic of Moldova were issued on June 23^rd, 1991 and were dedicated to the first anniversary of the proclamation of sovereignty, bearing statehood attributes - coat of arms and flag of Republic of Moldova.

Moldova was the first former Soviet country to issue its own stamps. From 1991 to date were issued 875 official marks of Republic of Moldova.

The exhibition reunites many philatelic objects issued between 1991 and 2014 by the Ministry of Information Technology and Communications of Republic of Moldova - postal stamps, booklets and laced sheets, envelopes, postcards, models and essays - stored in the collections of the National Museum of History of Moldova and the State enterprise „Poșta Moldovei".

In the multitude of topics addressed for 23 years, Moldovan philately promoted with honor cultural and historical values. Most representative philatelic objects are part of the exhibition framework. Turning point moments from our history, history and culture personalities, symbolic landmarks and monuments, heritage objects are among the aspects mirrored in the exhibition. Philatelic materials display: the Great National Assembly, election day of the first president of Republic of Moldova, 15 years from accession to UN, 70 years from the first mass deportation wave of Bessarabaians; fortresses of Soroca, Tighina (Bender), Orhei, Hotin, Cetatea Albă, Ismail and Chilia; monasteries of Căpriana, Curchi, Hârbovăț, Japca, Rudi, Saharna and Ţipova; rulers of Moldova such as Alexandru cel Bun, Ştefan cel Mare, Petru Rareș, Mihai Viteazul, Vasile Lupu, Dimitrie Cantemir etc.; eminent personalities such as G. Ureche, Dosoftei, Varlaam, M. Costin, N. Milescu, I. Creangă, M. Eminescu, A. Bernardazzi, M. Berezovschi, A. Mateevici, Pan Halipa, Ş. Ciobanu, G. Vieru, M. Bieșu etc.

Thus, philatelic materials displayed in the exhibition illustrate the true national values that should not be forgotten, as they are what characterize us, define us, and enrich us.

With this exhibition, the public is being offered a small part of the living inheritance of our past and the opportunity to admire the beauty of design, of colors and printing technique of philatelic pieces.