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.
Additions and clarifications on the biography of Ioan Pelivan
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. VII [XXII], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
The article contains a number of additions and clarifications regarding the biography of Ioan Pelivan - a prominent person of political and national liberation movement of the Bessarabian Romanians against Tsarist rule.
There are given more information about the ancestry of Ioan Pelivan, as well as his study at the Religious School and the Theological Seminary in Chisinau.
In 1901, while studying law at the Yuryev (Dorpat) University (1898-1903), he was granted a scholarship of the Executive Board (Uprava) of the Bessarabian Provincial Zemstvo.
In 1912, against I. Pelivan, who at the time served as city judge in Balti, a complaint was filed in which he was accused of insulting. Finally, the application was considered by the Governing Senate, which acquitted him.
In the final part, based on previously unpublished archival documents there is indicated the real cause for the offset of Ioan Pelivan from the position of Balti city judge. Copies of the documents are annexed to the article.
Dinu Poștarencu
The population census of Bessarabia in 1824
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. VIII [XXIII], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Dinu Poștarencu
Administrative-territorial division of Bessarabia in the Tzarist period
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. III [XVIII], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Dinu Poștarencu
Non-indigenous district police officers in the first years after the annexation of Bessarabia
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. VI [XXI], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Dinu Poștarencu
Mihail Ozmidov, the first architect and land surveyor of the tsarist Bessarabia
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. I [XVI], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie Chișinău, 2007
Dinu Poștarencu
Transfer of Soroca town from private property to state property
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. II [XVII], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
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 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.
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.
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.
31 August 1989 St., 121 A, MD 2012, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova
