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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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#Exhibit of the Month

January 2024

Mihai Eminescu: volumes of works from the NMHM collection

On January 15, in tribute to the birthday of the great poet Mihai Eminescu (1850-1889), the Republic of Moldova celebrates the National Day of Culture. In the collection of the National Museum of History of Moldova there are several materials related to the name of the illustrious Romanian poet and prose writer, such as books, paintings, medals, coins, philately pieces and cartophile, etc. On this occasion, we present to the public two volumes signed by Mihai Eminescu, representing the author's oldest editions from our book collection.

The first book entitled "Political and literary writings: original manuscripts and collections from newspapers and magazines" vol. 1: 1870-1877 - XXXV, 451 p. was published in Bucharest in 1905. The cover is original, made of paper. On the forced sheet there is a stamp with the text: "Gheorghe Papaghiuc Library. Iasi". On the verso title page: "Publishing Institute of Graphic Arts "Minerva". On page V-XXXV, introduction signed by Ion Scurtu, dated Bucharest, June 10, 1905". Of the planned edition in 3 volumes, only volume 1 appeared (laudatory articles in the press of the time). On the back cover, the list of books published in the collection of the Library of Romanian Writers, classic authors and modern authors was placed.

The second book is "Complete Works. Poems - Short stories - Novel - Theater - Thoughts - Writings: Literary, Economic, Political and Philosophical - Letters - Critique of pure reason by Kant" with a preface and an introductory study by A. C. Cuza, Iași 1914: edited by Librăria Românească / Ioan V. Voinescu and N. Georgescu - Institute of Graphic Arts N.V. Ștefănescu & Co.: Ștefan cel Mare street, no. 38.

Three illustrations representing Mihai Eminescu at different ages are inserted in the volume: M. Eminescu after a photograph from 1879-1880 (between pages 184-185); M. Eminescu after a photo from the years 1884-1885 (between pages 344-345) and the photo of M. Eminescu from the age of 20, which is missing in our volume.

Alexandru C. Cuza (1857-1947), who signed the preface and the introductory study of the volume, was a professor of political economy at the University of Iași, a contemporary of Mihai Eminescu whom he knew. Because of the political activity of A.C. Cuza, one of the founders of the far-right movement in Romania, known for its extremism and anti-semitism, the 1914 edition was banned in 1948. Many copies of this edition were destroyed in the early years of the communist regime.



 

 


Independent Moldova
Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic
Bessarabia and MASSR between the Two World Wars
Bessarabia and Moldavian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic in the Period between the Two World Wars
Revival of National Movement
Time of Reforms and their Consequences
Abolition of Autonomy. Bessarabia – a New Tsarist Colony
Period of Relative Autonomy of Bessarabia within the Russian Empire
Phanariot Regime
Golden Age of the Romanian Culture
Struggle for Maintaining of Independence of Moldova
Formation of Independent Medieval State of Moldova
Era of the
Great Nomad Migrations
Early Middle Ages
Iron Age and Antiquity
Bronze Age
Aeneolithic Age
Neolithic Age
Palaeolithic Age
  
  

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#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...

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The National Museum of History of Moldova takes place among the most significant museum institutions of the Republic of Moldova, in terms of both its collection and scientific reputation.
©2006-2025 National Museum of History of Moldova
Visit museum 31 August 1989 St., 121 A, MD 2012, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova
Phones:
Secretariat: +373 (22) 24-43-25
Department of Public Relations and Museum Education: +373 (22) 24-04-26
Fax: +373 (22) 24-43-69
E-mail: office@nationalmuseum.md
Technical Support: info@nationalmuseum.md
Web site administration and maintenance: Andrei EMILCIUC

 



The National Museum of History of Moldova takes place among the most significant museum institutions of the Republic of Moldova, in terms of both its collection and scientific reputation.
©2006-2025 National Museum of History of Moldova
Visit museum 31 August 1989 St., 121 A, MD 2012, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova
Phones:
Secretariat: +373 (22) 24-43-25
Department of Public Relations and Museum Education: +373 (22) 24-04-26
Fax: +373 (22) 24-43-69
E-mail: office@nationalmuseum.md
Technical Support: info@nationalmuseum.md
Web site administration and maintenance: Andrei EMILCIUC

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The National Museum of History of Moldova takes place among the most significant museum institutions of the Republic of Moldova, in terms of both its collection and scientific reputation.
©2006-2025 National Museum of History of Moldova
Visit museum 31 August 1989 St., 121 A, MD 2012, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova
Phones:
Secretariat: +373 (22) 24-43-25
Department of Public Relations and Museum Education: +373 (22) 24-04-26
Fax: +373 (22) 24-43-69
E-mail: office@nationalmuseum.md
Technical Support: info@nationalmuseum.md
Web site administration and maintenance: Andrei EMILCIUC