#Exhibit of the Month

The Roman bronze situla comes from a collection of archaeological artifacts confiscated at customs and transferred to the holdings of the National Museum of History of Moldova in 2009. Its place of discovery remains unknown.

A situla (Latin for "bucket") is a metal vessel-usually made of bronze-shaped like a pail and equipped with two movable handles at the top, traditionally used for mixing wine with water. The handles are attached to the vessel via two decorated ears that are welded to the rim.

The body of the situla is truncated-conical in shape and features two decorative bands with small circular patterns formed by hammering, located just below the rim.

Its base is double-layered: the inner bottom is hemispherical and hammered, while the outer bottom is flat and lathe-made. The outer base is welded to the inner bottom, serving as the vessel's foot-support.

This object was crafted using a combination of casting, hammering, and partial lathe-finishing. Dimensions: Maximum height - 31.7 cm; Maximum diameter - 22.8 cm; Base diameter - 13.5 cm

Situlae of this type originated in the Roman Empire and were later adopted by various ancient peoples, including those from the northwestern Pontic region.

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Closing Conference of the Exhibition "The Riches of Southern Romania: The Embroidered Peasant Blouse from Muntenia, Oltenia, Dobrogea, and Southern Moldova"

July 31, 2024

The National Museum of History of Moldova announces the conclusion of the temporary exhibition "The Riches of Southern Romania: The Embroidered Peasant Blouse from Muntenia, Oltenia, Dobrogea, and Southern Moldova," which was open to the public from June 23 to July 31, 2024. This exhibition was organized in partnership with the "Dimitrie Gusti" National Village Museum in Bucharest, with support from the "Mihai Eminescu" Romanian Cultural Institute in Chișinău.

At the closing event held on July 31, 2024, a conference was dedicated to the theme "Heritage Element: Traditional Costume from Romania in the Collections of the 'Dimitrie Gusti' National Village Museum." The conference was moderated by Mrs. Monica Babuc, Director of the "Mihai Eminescu" Romanian Cultural Institute in Chișinău. A thematic presentation was delivered by Mrs. Georgiana Onoiu, Director of Heritage at the "Dimitrie Gusti" National Village Museum. She provided an in-depth discussion on the conservation, restoration, and promotion of traditional Romanian costumes, emphasizing their importance within the context of national cultural heritage.

The exhibition showcased 71 pieces of traditional attire from the collection of Mrs. Marghiolița Constantinescu Rogojan, which are included in the heritage of the "Dimitrie Gusti" National Village Museum. These items, primarily consisting of embroidered peasant blouses, originate from the regions of Muntenia, Oltenia, Dobrogea, and Southern Moldova. The selection of these objects aimed to highlight the diversity and complexity of the crafting techniques and decorative styles characteristic of Southern Romania.

During the exhibition, the public had the opportunity to explore the aesthetic and functional features of the embroidered blouses, a central element of traditional attire in these regions. Additionally, the exhibition provided an opportunity to deepen knowledge about the cultural and social significance of this type of traditional attire, which holds an important place in Romania's intangible heritage.

At the closing conference, Mrs. Monica Babuc, Director of the "Mihai Eminescu" Romanian Cultural Institute in Chișinău, and Dr. habil. Eugen Sava, General Director of the National Museum of History of Moldova, reaffirmed their commitment to continuing efforts to promote cultural heritage through future exhibitions and events that will offer the public an opportunity to learn about and appreciate the cultural and historical diversity of the region.

The National Museum of History of Moldova extends its gratitude to institutional partners for their essential contributions to the realization of this exhibition, as well as to the visitors for their interest over the more than five weeks of the event. The exhibition "The Riches of Southern Romania" is part of a series of events organized by the museum to valorize and promote Romania's tangible and intangible cultural heritage.