#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

„Tadeusz Kościuszko - the Price of Freedom”

November 1-15, 2017

The National Museum of History of Moldova and the Polish Institute in Bucharest invite you to the photo exhibition "Tadeusz Kościuszko - the Price of Freedom", which was opened on November 1, 2017 in the lobby of the museum.

Poland evokes the personality of Tadeusz Kościuszko, a renowned commander and freedom fighter for his own country and for America, on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of his death. The Polish and American General Tadeusz Kościuszko (1746-1817) fought for the freedom of both peoples, he demanded the liberation of peasants and slaves and, as a very capable military engineer, he built remarkable fortifications, designing, among others, the West Point Fort which is today the seat of the renowned American Military Academy.

Owing to his exceptional achievements and his extremely modern way of thinking, the leader of one of the Polish national rebellions (the so-called Kościuszko insurrection of 1794), he is today a hero of Poland and of the United States. There are monuments erected in his honor in many countries of the world, and his name is borne by the very highest mountain peak in Australia - Mount Kościuszko (Mount Kosciuszko).

On the occasion of the declaration of the Tadeusz Kościuszko Year 2017 by the Polish Parliament, numerous events are planned around the world to evoke the personality of the famous commander.

The exhibition, which will be presented in Chișinău on the eve of the Independence Day of Poland, celebrated on November 11, speaks about the famous Polish man through 24 stands. Besides the most important information about Tadeusz Kościuszko's life, are presented memories of this remarkable commander and military engineer, as well as photographs and paintings presenting both Tadeuszo Kościuszko himself at different moments of his life and important places and events in history linked to his name. The exhibition depicts Tadeusz Kościuszko not only as a military and politician. From the exhibition one can discover where he was formed, how he came to be crowned with glory, what passions and weaknesses he had and whom he befriended and loved.

The exhibition will be open at the National Museum of History of Moldova until 15 November 2017.