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.
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
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
Vera Serjant
The role of Bessarabian Zemstva in opening the school of viticulture and winemaking from Saharna
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. IV [XIX], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Vera Serjant
Newspaper "Novaya Gazeta" and its role in the development of advertising in Bessarabia
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. VI [XXI], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
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
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
