#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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Opening of the exhibition "Bessarabian Bulgarians and the Liberation of Bulgaria"

March 4, 2023

On March 4, 2023, in the hall of the House of Culture of the city of Taraclia, was opened the photo-documentary exhibition "Bessarabian Bulgarians and the Liberation of Bulgaria", dedicated to the 145 years since the liberation of Bulgaria from the domination of the Ottoman Empire.

During the exhibition launch event, the vice-president of the Taraclia district, Mr. Alexandru Borimecicov, emphasized the importance of the exhibition and it must to be sent to all educational institutions in the Taraclia district to popularize knowledge about the Bessarabian Bulgarians, who participated in the Liberation of the Motherland their history. Also, Mr. Borimecicov mentioned that in autumn, the exhibition will be sent to Bulgaria, where it will be temporarily exhibited in the Presidency and Parliament of the Republic of Bulgaria.

The General Director of the National Museum of History of Moldova, dr. hab. Eugen Sava reiterated NMHM's openness to the initiative of the Taraclia District Council and the Scientific Society of Bulgarians from the Republic of Moldova to jointly organize this exhibition. The exhibition includes documents and photographs from the NMHM funds, and the purpose of the museum, as a cultural, scientific and educational institution, is to promote historical values and present them to the general public objectively.

The Consul of the Republic of Bulgaria in Taraclia, Mr. Liubomir Dimov, congratulated everyone present on the National Day of Bulgaria. Mr. Dimov thanked the National Museum of History of Moldova for the fruitful collaboration with Bulgarian scientific and cultural public organizations from the Republic of Moldova and expressed his desire to personally visit the National Museum of History of Moldova to see the originals of some objects, which are related to the history of Bulgaria and Moldovan-Bulgarian cultural relations.

The President of the Scientific Society of Bulgarians from the Republic of Moldova dr. hab. Ivan Duminica pointed out the practical value of the exhibition, which will be used as course support for the subject of studies "History, tradition and culture of the Bulgarian people", which is taught in schools in the Taraclia district.

Toward the end of the event, Mrs. Maria Evdochimova, NMHM museographer, presented the exhibition to the audience, telling in the smallest details about the images, documents and objects present on the exhibition banners. Ms. Evdochimova reviewed the events that led to the liberation of Bulgaria and reported on the Bessarabian Bulgarians who participated in these processes.

As a sign of gratitude, for the realization of this exhibition, the vice-president of the Taraclia district, Mr. Alexandru Borimecicov, awarded diplomas of honor to the NMHM team, represented by Mr. Eugen Sava, General Director, Mrs. Livia Sîrbu, Deputy Director for Communication, Mrs. Maria Evdochimova, museographer, Sorin Șclearuc, main specialist in communication, and Mr. Ivan Duminică, President of the Scientific Society of Bulgarians from the Republic of Moldova.

#Exhibit of the Month

Buckles Decorated in the Polychrome Enamel Technique

Opening of the exhibition "Bessarabian Bulgarians and the Liberation of Bulgaria"

March 4, 2023

#Exhibit of the Month