Porcelain is a material that has sparked great interest throughout history, and its production has been a true challenge. Also known as "white gold," porcelain is a white, translucent ceramic material obtained by firing a paste of kaolin, quartz, and feldspar, along with other additives, at high temperatures. It was first discovered and used in China. The first Chinese porcelain objects arrived in Europe in the 13th century, but a broader spread of Chinese porcelain on the European continent is recorded in the 17th century. The technology for producing porcelain was kept a secret by the Chinese for a very long time.
The first hard-paste porcelain manufactory in Europe, located in the city of Meissen, was established in 1710 due to discoveries in porcelain production made by Saxon mathematician and physicist Ehrenfried Walter von Tschirnhaus (1661-1708), which were put into practice by the royal court alchemist Johann Friedrich Böttger (1682-1718). He invented the glaze and achieved the complete fusion of the shard and the glaze. The Meissen factory, still operational today, has created and continues to create a vast range of porcelain products. Crafted by the finest artists, sculptors, and engravers, who use unique hand-painted colors and exclusive designs, Meissen products are of exceptional quality and elegance, enjoying worldwide fame.
The tea set, partially consisting of seven pieces (teapot, milk jug, sugar bowl, and two cups with saucers), displayed in this showcase, is a product of the famous Meissen factory in the Kingdom of Saxony, Germany. It was crafted in the first half of the 19th century from high-quality porcelain. The exhibit became part of the collection of the National Museum of History of Moldova through a transfer from the "G. Cotovschi" Memorial House in Hâncești, which was closed in 1989-1990.
The decoration of these pieces is remarkable, featuring hand-painted "German flowers," one of the well-known styles of floral and plant decoration practiced by Meissen craftsmen since the 18th century. They were influenced by Chinese porcelain, which was often adorned with images of flowers and fruits. A distinctive feature of this decorative style was the "scattered flowers" arrangement, where floral elements were placed as individual blossoms or bouquets across the surface of porcelain objects.
The marking on the underside of the pieces consists of two crossed swords, elements borrowed from the coat of arms of the Kingdom of Saxony, applied by hand with cobalt paint under the glaze. With slight variations in the representation of the swords, this mark has been used since 1722 and continues to the present day. The mark on this tea set is characterized by prominent dots on the crossed swords, a feature used at the Meissen factory between 1815 and 1860.
The polychrome floral painting, gilding, and the application of a rosebud on the lids of the teapot and sugar bowl lend a sublime delicacy to these pieces, making them rare and exquisite.
Advertisements of trading houses and shops in the Bessarabian press (the late 19th - early 20th centuries)
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. V [XX], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Among the many advertisements in Bessarabian periodicals the messages with socio-economic content occupied a special place. This paper offers its readers a wide range of advertising messages related to trade. It aims to identify and evaluate the content and form of “commercial” advertisements, to define their role and place on the pages of newspapers and other periodicals in the historical period under review. Due to the wide distribution and wide range of readers periodicals ranked first among other means of advertising. Advertising is a good way to inform and persuade consumers in order to create a preference or to motivate them to consume a particular product. Bessarabian merchants who posted their advertisements in newspapers, magazines, and other publications were also convinced in this. The number of such advertising messages is impressive. Their classification by content allows us to determine the level of trade in Bessarabia where at that time there was a large network of stores specializing in the sale of goods and products of Russian and foreign factories. At the same time, we find that in the Bessarabian trade there were operated such commercial structures as trading houses established under contract to carry out a successful trade.
List of illustrations:
1. Ad unit of the “G. Kogan and Son” Trading House published in the newspaper “Бессарабская жизнь”, No.257, December 5, 1914. 2. Advertisement of the department store of the „Barbalat and Co” Trading House published in the newspaper “Бессарабская жизнь”, No.265, December 14, 1914. 3. Ad unit of B. Davidov’s hat shop published in the magazine “Наше объединение”, No.26, June 26, 1911. 4. Advertisement of О.P. Vorob’yov’s weapon store published in the magazine “Наше объединение”, No.26, June 26, 1911. 5. Ad unit of K.M. Yakovenko’s shoe store published in the newspaper “Друг”, No.204, August 21, 1909. 6. Advertisement of I.A. Belotserkovsky’s fur shop published in the newspaper “Бессарабская жизнь”, No.260, December 9, 1914. 7. Ad unit of A.N. Nemirovsky’s watch shop published in the newspaper “Друг”, No.15, January 19, 1914. 8. Advertisement of Kuzma brothers’ haberdashery published in the newspaper “Друг”, No.225, October 10, 1910. 9. Ad unit of Barbalat’s department store published in the newspaper “Друг”, No.29, February 5, 1914. 10. Advertisement of the pianos and gramophones store of F.F. Kapras published in the newspaper “Друг”, No.180, July 19, 1909. 11. Ad unit of V.I. Vorob’yov’s music store published in the newspaper “Друг”, No.188, July 30, 1909. 12. Advertisement of the “Tertus” tea shop published in the newspaper “Друг”, No.212, September 1, 1909. 13. Ad unit of E. Taser musical instruments store published in the newspaper “Друг”, No.17, January 21, 1914. 14. Advertisement of M. Syromyatnikov’s manufactory store published in the newspaper “Друг”, No.51, March 2, 1914. 15. Ad unit of M. Vivodtsev’s shoe store published in the newspaper “Бессарабская жизнь”, No.79, April 5, 1907. 16. Advertisement of the shop of K.D. Pupko , a representative of “J. Blok” Society, published in the newspaper “Бессарабская жизнь”, No.56, March 4, 1906. 17. Advertisement of K. Sehter’s bookstore published in the newspaper “Бессарабская жизнь”, No.211, August 17, 1905. 18. Ad unit of a store of the “Singer “Company published in the newspaper “Бессарабская жизнь”, No.222, August 28, 1905. 19. Advertisement of bookstores of the “K. Sehter and Co” Trading House published in the newspaper “Друг”, No.33, February 9, 1914. 20. Advertisement of B.V. Belousov’s music store published in the newspaper “Друг”, No.29, February 5, 1914. 21. Advertisement of S.M. Ol’shanetsky’s linen and trousseau shop published in the newspaper “Друг”, No.54, March 5, 1914. 22. Ad unit of I.A. Lapshuk’s shoe store published in the newspaper “Друг”, No.246, October 14, 1909 23. Advertisement of a manufactory store of the “Kogan and Son” Trading House published in the magazine “Кишиневские епархиальные ведомости”, No.4, February 15, 1904. 24. Ad unit of M. Vivodtsev’s shoe store published in “Бессарабский юбилейнный сельскохозяйственный календарь”, 1912. 25. Ad unit of M.A. Portnoi tobacco shop published in “Бессарабский юбилейнный сельскохозяйственный календарь”, 1912. 26. Advertisement of M. Syromyatnikov’s manufactory store published in “Бессарабский юбилейнный сельскохозяйственный календарь”, 1912. 27. Ad unit of “Sor, Rozenfeld și Seinberg” Trading House published in “Бессарабский юбилейнный сельскохозяйственный календарь”, 1912. 28. Advertisement of I.A. Lapshuk’s shoe store published in “Бессарабский юбилейнный сельскохозяйственный календарь”, 1912.
29. Advertisement of B. Kaushansky’s store of furniture and mirrors published in „Иллюстрированный адрес-календарь Бессарабской губернии на 1913”, 1912.
Vera Serjant
Collection of Academician Anton Ablov from the holdings of the National Museum of History of Moldova
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. XVIII [XXXIII], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Vera Serjant
Bessarabian daily newspapers as a means of advertising. From the collection of periodicals of NMHM (end of 19th - early 20th centuries)
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. IX [XXIV], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie Chișinău, 2015
Vera Serjant
Some reflections about the advertisement in Bessarabia (end of the 19th - beginning of the 20th centuries)
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. III [XVIII], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Vera Serjant
The legacy of Vasile Stroescu
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. XIV [XXIX], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Vera Serjant
The collection of Professor Gheorghe Rașcu from the holdings of the National Museum of History of Moldova as an important source on the history of education in interwar Bessarabia
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. XVII [XXXII], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Porcelain is a material that has sparked great interest throughout history, and its production has been a true challenge. Also known as "white gold," porcelain is a white, translucent ceramic material obtained by firing a paste of kaolin, quartz, and feldspar, along with other additives, at high temperatures...
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.