#Exhibit of the Month

The main parts of the camera include the body, bellows, lens, and viewfinder system. The body consists of two lacquered walnut wood frames, joined by a folding black textile bellows that allows the necessary extension for focusing. On the front panel is the Agfa anastigmat lens, mounted in a Compur-type shutter produced by F. Deckel in Munich. It features a foldable "brilliant" viewfinder for both portrait and landscape orientation. It uses glass photographic plates coated with a photographic emulsion, mounted in walnut wood holders, with a frame size of 9x12 cm.
The walnut wood model, considered the flagship "Agfa Isolar Luxus," was designed by the A.H. Rietzschel factory in Munich, acquired by AGFA in 1925, which continued producing this type of camera under its own name until the late 1920s.
The piece was restored by Mihail Culașco, Restoration Department of NMHM.
Brief History of the Camera
The history of the camera spans 200 years, evolving from the camera obscura to today's digital devices. Key milestones include: the first permanent photograph in 1826 by French physicist Joseph Nicéphore Niépce, using a wooden box and a plate coated with bitumen of Judea; the invention of the first photographic process - daguerreotype - in 1839 by Frenchman Louis Daguerre, marking the official birth of photography; the invention of calotype, based on the negative/positive principle, by British physicist and chemist Fox Talbot; the invention of wet collodion plates by Englishman Frederick Scott Archer and dry glass plates by Richard Leach Maddox and John Huds Bennet; the introduction of flexible roll film and the launch of the first Kodak camera by American inventor George Eastman; the release of the first 35 mm film camera by German company "Leica"; the launch of the first instant camera "Polaroid," invented by American Edwin Land. Finally, starting in 1975, this path led to the digital photography revolution. Each successive step made cameras smaller and faster, significantly improving image quality.
The first photographic studio in Chișinău was opened in 1854 by Eduard Glewski, and before World War I, there were already about 100 photography studios in Bessarabia.
The collection of the National Museum of History of Moldova includes over 30 cameras, made in Austria, Germany, France, USSR, Japan, and China, dating from the late 19th century to the 2000s. Among them are folding bellows cameras, BOX-type cameras, single-lens reflex (SLR) and twin-lens reflex (TLR) cameras, as well as digital (DSLR) cameras.

Virtual Tour

Exhibitions

"Secrets of Ancient Egypt"

February 25 - April 30, 2017

Starting with February 25, the National Museum of History of Moldova will host the first interactive history exhibition dedicated to children "Secrets of Ancient Egypt".

We invite you to a unique interactive journey, during which you will learn about enigmas of the Great Sphinx of Giza, mysteries of the pharaohs, secrets of the pyramids, meaning of amulets.

Offer your child an unforgettable experience!

The exhibition "Secrets of Ancient Egypt" is recommended for children aged 5 to 15 years. This includes presentations and explanations of moments, characters and essential habits of Ancient Egypt - one of the most exciting periods of history, combining historical facts related to children with elements of mockup, interactive workshops with educational purposes.

The unique concept of the exhibition "Secrets of Ancient Egypt" allows interaction with the exhibits and involves younger audiences in the game. During the visit, the children will enter into a pyramid, will sit on the throne of the Pharaoh, will open a sarcophagus, will know the art of mummification and old writing, will create themselves amulets and jewelry similar to that of ancient times, will discover the meaning of things they touch.

Details on: www.historyhackers.md and on the official Facebook page of the project: https://www.facebook.com/historyhackersmd.

The exhibition „Secrets of Ancient Egypt" will be open to the public at the National Museum of History of Moldova (rooms on the ground floor) from February 25 to April 30, 2017.

The exhibition can be visited in groups only, by appointment. Programming is at tel.: 079 833 533.

Groups of visitors should consist of at least 5 and maximum 35 persons.

Exhibition visiting hours:
Monday-Sunday, 10.00-17.00 (until March 26);
10.00-18.00 (from March 27).
Without rest days.

The exhibition will be closed for public on Easter (April, 16-17) and Parent's Day (April, 23-24).

The last group will enter the exhibition at 16.15 (in winter time until 26.03. 2017) and at 17.15 (in summer time from 27.03.2017).

The ticket office closes at 16.15 (in winter time) and at 17.15 (in summer time).

Cost of tickets:

120 lei

Special facilities for entrance tickets:

• Preschool children - free entrance;
• Students who will be visiting the exhibition in groups larger than 15 persons will pay 110 lei/per person, and the attendant from the educational institution will have free access;
• Institutionalized children - free on Tuesday.

Tickets can be purchased from the museum tickets office and online (iTicket).

Come to the exhibition and win the treasure of the Pharaohs!

Buy one ticket and receive a coupon, fill it in and drop it in the special box at the entrance in the exhibition room and wait the draw day.

Every three weeks will be drawn valuable prizes which you have a chance to win!

The pharaohs wish you good luck!