#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.

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Exhibitions

“The Division of Europe. Consequences of the Ribbentrop-Molotov (Hitler-Stalin) Pact”

July 31 – September 6, 2025

Between July 31 and September 6, 2025, the National Museum of History of Moldova will host the traveling exhibition "The Division of Europe. Consequences of the Ribbentrop-Molotov (Hitler-Stalin) Pact", organized in partnership with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, Moldova Office, the Berlin-Karlshorst Museum, and the National Association of Young Historians of Moldova.

The exhibition opening will take place on July 31, 2025, at 10:00 AM on the ground floor of the National Museum of History of Moldova.

This exhibition was developed by the Berlin-Karlshorst Museum and the Chair of East European History at Heinrich Heine University in Düsseldorf, marking 85 years since the signing of the Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact. Signed on August 23, 1939, between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union, the pact was more than a non-aggression treaty-it was a secret agreement to divide Central and Eastern Europe into spheres of influence, with tragic consequences for millions of people.

Through archival documents, maps, photographs, and personal testimonies, the exhibition reconstructs the historical context of the pact and highlights its impact on Poland, the Baltic States, Romania, and other countries in the region. Deportations, forced occupations, loss of sovereignty, and human suffering are presented not only as historical facts but also as warnings for present and future generations.

This educational and commemorative initiative reflects the core values of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation: the defense of democracy, the promotion of the rule of law, respect for human rights, and the cultivation of responsible historical memory. In an era when historical truth is often contested or relativized, it is essential to provide the public with tools for critical understanding of the past.

The exhibition is part of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation's broader efforts to support civic education and European dialogue. It offers a space for reflection for young people, educators, historians, and the general public, encouraging a deeper analysis of the tragedies caused by the pact and the dangers posed by historical silence or distortion.

Previously, the exhibition was presented at the Museum of the Edineț Region from June 5 to 30, 2025. By the end of the year, it will be shown in several other cities across the Republic of Moldova, in collaboration with local museums.