#Exhibit of the Month

German porcelain is highly prized among antique collectors for its exceptional material quality, originality, and the meticulous craftsmanship of its decorative design.
The museum's collection preserves five figurines from one of the oldest porcelain manufactories in the Thuringia region of Germany - the statuary group known as *"The Musicians"*, crafted at the Volkstedt manufactory. These pieces entered the museum's holdings in 1991, acquired from a resident of Chișinău. With undeniable historical and artistic value, they bear the distinct imprint of the Rococo style.
The Volkstedt manufactory has a long-standing tradition in producing figurines, including those depicting musicians. In 1760, Georg Heinrich Macheleid - inventor of hard-paste porcelain in Thuringia - founded a production workshop in Zitzendorf, which was relocated to Volkstedt in 1762. Macheleid led the manufactory until 1764. Over time, the factory changed ownership and management multiple times. Under the direction of Christian Nonne, it flourished between 1767 and 1797, a period marked by significant artistic development. Volkstedt began creating figurines that would later gain international recognition.
It was during this flourishing period that the museum's porcelain statuettes, titled *"The Musicians"*, were produced. They depict five “putti”: four playing musical instruments (flute, mandolin, horn, and pipe), while the fifth conducts. Each figurine is entirely handcrafted - from modeling to painting - and delicately adorned with pastel tones and gilded details, capturing the playful movement and refined artistry of each musician. The base is made of mass-colored porcelain in a rare grey-green hue. The contrast between green, white, and gold accents lends the ensemble an unusually delicate appearance. These ornamental features are characteristic of the Rococo style, which emerged in France and is closely associated with the reign of King Louis XV.

The mark applied to the figurines consists of two crossed forks, clearly rendered in underglaze blue, with slightly blurred paint - a detail that helps date their production. Because the crossed forks often resembled the crossed swords of the Meissen trademark, the Volkstedt manufactory was compelled to change its mark starting in 1787. Initially represented by a single fork, the mark briefly returned to two forks before being replaced in 1800 by the graphic symbol "R", referencing the town of Rudolstadt. Therefore, the brief period during which the two-fork mark was reinstated - and during which the museum's figurines were likely produced - is estimated to be between 1787 and 1800.

The statuettes range in height from 10 to 18 cm and are preserved in relatively good condition.

These late 18th-century German porcelain pieces, now on display, are exceptionally rare. They stand as true works of art by German craftsmen and serve as important historical testimonies to the evolution of porcelain manufacturing in Germany.

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Research Academic Reports

From the Museum's 2019 Agenda (Science Component)

In 2019 the museum’s researchers will continue to work on individual research topics within the institutional project The role of museum heritage in the development of contemporary society.

According to Order no.1857 of 17.12.2018 of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Research of the Republic of Moldova, the project The role of museum heritage in the development of contemporary society was extended for the year 2019 (funding for 2019 has been approved)

In 2019, the museum's researchers will continue to research and systematize heritage museum collections: the collection of documents and photographs, post-war poster collection, postcard collection, archaeological collections (Paleolithic - Early Middle Ages), numismatics collections, biographical collections of some outstanding personalities (the Bessarabian nobility) and their presentation to the scientific community and the public at different scientific events and temporary exhibitions.

The researchers will participate with papers, reports and theses at symposiums, conferences, seminars organized in the republic and abroad. Three scientific events are scheduled:

Heraldic Symposium, 13^th edition;

Annual scientific conference of the museum History. Archaeology. Museology, 29^th edition;

International Symposium of Numismatics, 19^th edition, October 2019

Two issues of the museum’s journal Tyragetia will be structured and edited: no.1 Archaeology. Ancient History; no.2 History. Museology, 2018. The following monographs will be published:

E. Sava, I. Manzura, S. Agulnikov, Tumuli din stepa Bugeacului Cercetări arheologice în anii 1984-1987. (Barrows from the steppe of Bugeac. Archaeological research in 1984-1987)

S. Ţerna, M. Vasilache-Curoşu, Figurine antropomorfe din etapa Cucuteni A din interfluviul pruto-nistrean (în baza colecţiilor Muzeului Naţional de Istorie a Moldovei). (Anthropomorphic figurines from the Cucuteni A stage in the interfluves of Prut and Nistru (based on collections of the National Museum of History of Moldova).

All scientific and cultural events will have additional promotional materials.

The results of the research will be valorized through museum exhibitions, primarily by organization of temporary exhibitions devoted to important events in the history of the republic, and by creation of new exhibitions of museum collections. Researchers will develop the scientific concept and thematic structure for the following temporary exhibitions:

ArheOS. Când antropologii şi arheologii fac oasele să vorbească. (ArheOS. When anthropologists and archaeologists make bones talk)

Afişul muzical în colecţia Muzeului Naţional de Istorie a Moldovei. (Musical poster in the collection of the National Museum of History of Moldova)

Situl arheologic Costeşti. 65 de ani de cercetări arheologice. (The archaeological site of Costeşti. 65 years of archaeological research)

Figuri antropomorfe cucuteniene. (Cucuteni antropomorthic figures)

Interesting pieces, materials and documents will be collected and purchased for the purpose of developing the museum heritage and organization of future exhibitions. The process of digitalization of museum heritage will continue. Files of analytical inventory will be drawn up for each cultural asset from the museum collections and for all the pieces that will enter the museum heritage through filed research, acquisitions and donations. The classification of mobile cultural pieces will continue.

For all major events organized by museum researchers will be issued press releases to be distributed to various channels of information.

The information about scientific events and exhibitions organized by the museum will be promoted in the printed media, on Radio and on TV.

Museum researchers will constantly update the museum's website with written information for both the general public and interested specialists.