#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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Events Archive

The International Museum Day and European Night of Museums

18 May 2019

National Museum of History of Moldova, under the patronage of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Research, organized on May 18, 2019, between 10.00 – 24.00, the International Museum Day and European Night of Museums. This year the events was held under the theme “Museums as Cultural Hubs: The future of tradition”.

Program included:

Visit of the Exhibitions

1. Permanent exhibitions „History and civilization”

2. Innovatic Fest Roboshow, rooms 1-4, 10:00 – 24:00

At the exhibition visitors enjoyed the poetry recitals by the Tespian robot and danced together with the dancing robots, remained amazed at the ease with which robot spiders overcome obstacles and fascinated for life by the star of the Las Vegas Innovation Exhibition 2019 - the puppy Aibo!

Access to the exhibition “Innovatic fest” was possible with discounted tickets.

3. “Bucharest: a Novecento portrait”, the lobby, from 10:00 to 24:00

The temporary exhibition about the 20^th century Bucharest bringed this city to the attention of the public from the perspective of a twentieth-century journey, without limiting itself to the evolution of urban society, but also trying to show some changes in behavior, way of life, concerns, living and indoor surroundings.

4. “Fashion and style in Chişinău and Bucharest of the 30s", room 12 / Blue Room, 10:00 - 24:00

A unique collection of dresses of the famous stars of the Romanian stage and some of the most rare accessories from the 30's of the 20^th century. Every dress has a special story.

The exhibition represents a retrospective of fashionable silhouettes of those years, which fits perfectly with the interior of the National Museum of History of Moldova. Guests will also be able to admire several images that demonstrate the beauty, elegance, expressiveness of the silhouettes and the glow of the creations of that time.

5. New pieces from the collection of the National Museum of History of Moldova.

In the framework of the exhibition “Antiquity and Medieval Age” were presented, for the first time, copies of two metopes from the Trajan's Column and the layout of the Căuşeni Church.

Participation in the Events

1. Book presentation „Piese de giuvaergie antică din colecțiile Muzeului Național de Istorie a Moldovei”, author Ana Niculiță, blue room of the museum, 12:00.

2. Chamber music concert, National Chamber Orchestra, Conductor Vladimir Andrieș, blue room of the museum, 13:30 – 14:30

3. Musical show performed by the students of the lyceum S. Rahmaninov, blue room of the museum, 16:00 – 17:00

4. A movie at the museum. „Expedițiile memoriei”, room 10 / Modern history. OWH Studio; recent productions from the Cronograf Festival. 17:00 – 20:00

5. Painting on ceramics workshop. Room 6 / Red Room.

Workshop by Svetlana Şugjda (Faculty of Fine Arts and Design, “Ion Creangă” State Pedagogical University) and Alena Stoica, ceramist artist. Visitors had the opportunity to paint decorative motifs typical for the Cucuteni culture and to take home their works. My pot - my work! from 10:00 to 16:00

6. Medieval calligraphy workshop. Room 8.

Handing feathers and nibs on old paper with wonderful inks, visitors wrote their own letters and papers, strengthened them with the seal of the museum and gave them to their loved ones. No one left the museum without a memory! from 10:00 to 16:00

7. Craftsmen fair (with selling). Museum courtyard, 10:00 – 20:00

Creative workshops with the participation of craftsmen

Ion Prividiuc – potter

Grigore Pasternac – carpenter

Oksana Bureak – jewelry from leather and natural stones

Victor Pelin - carpenter

Nadejda Sîrbu – toys from clay

Olga Koshel – potter

8. Night concert, museum courtyard, from 20:30 – 23:00

... and other beautiful surprises!

On May 18, 2019, between 10:00 and 24:00 hours, access to the museum's rooms and participation in all activities from the program, with the exception of the Innovatic fest exhibition, were free of charge.

#Exhibit of the Month

The Statuary Group “The Musicians”

The International Museum Day and European Night of Museums

18 May 2019

Participation in the Events

#Exhibit of the Month