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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 cherubic figures: 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.

Virtual Tour




Heraldica Moldaviae, Vol. 3, 2020

Chişinău, 2021 (Tipogr. „Bons Offices”) – ISBN 978‑9975‑87‑839‑5. – 224 p.

Studies and Papers


Attila István SZEKERES

THE COATS OF ARMS OF MOLDAVIA AND WALLACHIA IN A LETTER PATENT OF NOBILITY ISSUED IN 1576 IN VIENNA


Drăgan-George BASARABĂ, Bettina-Evelin VARGA

FROM MOLDAVIA TO CRISIANA: GENEALOGIC AND HERALDIC NOTES ABOUT A GERMAN FAMILY – SALBECK OF PETRIȘ


Sergius CIOCANU, Teodor CANDU

THE SEALS OF THE METROPOLITAN SEAT OF MOLDOVA PRINCIPALITY AND OF THE BISHOPRICS OF RĂDĂUȚI AND HUȘI (1752-1812)


Silviu ANDRIEȘ-TABAC

INTRODUCTION OF THE PROVINCIAL COAT OF ARMS AND OF THE CIVIL UNIFORM IN BESSARABIA. 1813-1818


Silviu ANDRIEȘ-TABAC, Sergius CIOCANU

VILLAGE SEALS IN THE STATE DOMAINS FROM SOUTHERN BESSARABIA IN 1829


Sorin IFTIMI

„ARMIS ET LEGIBUS, UTRO QUE CLARESCERE PULCHRUM”. A NEW APPROACH TO THE STURDZA FAMILY COAT OF ARMS


Ana BOLDUREANU

MODERN LEADS DISCOVERED ON THE TERRITORY OF THE REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA


Lucian-Valeriu LEFTER

RECOLLECTION OF SEVERAL CHURCH SEALS FREQUENTIN THE 19th CENTURY MOLDAVIA


Adelaida CHIROȘCA

A SEAL OF THE FRĂSINEI MONASTERY FROM THE VILLAGE OF MUEREASCA, VÂLCEA COUNTY (1864)


Tudor-Radu TIRON

UN UNREALIZED PROJECT: THE COMMEMORATIVE MEDAL „400 YEARS SINCE THE UNION OF THE ROMANIAN COUNTRIES UNDER THE SCEPTRE OF MICHAEL THE BRAVE” (2000-2002)


REVIEWS, NOTES AND PRESENTATIONS


Silviu ANDRIEȘ-TABAC

Сергей Семанов, Александр Сегень, Макаровы, Москва: Издательство журнала «Наш современник», 2001, 368 с., с цветными вклейками, (Серия «Знаменитые русские фамилии», вып. 1)


Silviu ANDRIEȘ-TABAC

O nouă lucrare fundamentală asupra super ex-librisului heraldic rus și un al treilea super ex-libris al lui Dimitrie Cantemir


CHRONIC


Silviu ANDRIEŞ-TABAC

Moneda comemorativă de 10 lei dedicată aniversării a 30-a de la adoptarea Drapelului de Stat al Republicii Moldova


Ana BOLDUREANU, Silviu ANDRIEȘ-TABAC

Expoziția „Simbolurile oficiale și neoficiale ale Republicii Moldova”, Chișinău, Muzeul Național de Istorie a Moldovei,3 noiembrie 2020 – 31 mai 2021


Silviu ANDRIEȘ-TABAC

Al XIV-lea Simpozion de Heraldică, Chișinău, 4 decembrie 2020


 



 

 

Independent Moldova
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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
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Golden Age of the Romanian Culture
Struggle for Maintaining of Independence of Moldova
Formation of Independent Medieval State of Moldova
Era of the
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Bronze 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