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.
Anuarul Muzeului Național de Istorie a Moldovei, nr. I
Chișinău, 1992
I. Studii
• Nicolae A. Răilean, Istoria există numai prin adevăr • Nicolae A. Chetraru, Primul arheolog basarabean Ion C. Surucean și primul muzeu de istorie a Moldovei • Grigorie P. Jitaru, Contribuții la istoricul blazonului Basarabilor • Vlad D. Ghimpu, Considerații privind evoluția procesului etnic în Moldova • Mihai Sofronie, Vasile Stroescu, un mare mecenat al românilor transilvăneni • Л.Г. Амшеников, Молдавские поселения на Украине
II. Istorie veche și arheologie
• И.А. Борзияк, А.И. Давид, Т.Ф. Обадэ, Климэуць II – верхне-палеолитическая стоянка с мамонтовой фауной в Приднестровье • О.Г. Левицкий, Е.Н. Савва, Л.Ф. Чобан, Исследование курганного могильника раннего железного века у с. Тринка. • В.Я. Сорокин, Орудия труда и хозяйство племен культуры Прекукутень-Триполъе А на территории Молдовы • Н.В. Гольцева, Два кинжалa-меча эпохи бронзы из собрания Национального музея истории Молдовы • В.П. Хахеу, О гетских памятниках Левобережья Молдовы. • Г.И. Постикэ, Новые данные о средневековом горизонте в Старом Орхее • Natalia N. Mateevici, Colecțiile fondului de arheologie ale Muzeului Național de istorie a Moldovei
III. Istorie
• Mihai P. Onilă, Satele din județele Lăpușna, Orhei și Soroca care au fost închinate mănăstirilor (sec. XV-XVII) • Pavel S. Cocîrla, Unele dale privitoare la administrația ținutului și tîrgului Orhei la sfîrșitul sec. XVI - prima jumătate a sec. XVII • Liuba C. Bîrsan, Pîrcalabii cetăților de pe Nistru în timpul domniei lui Ştefan cel Mare • И.Е. Гончарова, Монеты феодальной Молдовы • В.Б. Букарский, План лагеря Карла XII. Из фондов Национального музея истории Молдовы • Olimpia Palamariu, Monede și medalii din sec. XVII-XIX din colecția Muzeului Hunedoara-Deva • Valentin N. Tomulet, Noi opinii privind dezvoltarea comerțului Basarabiei în prima jumătate a sec. XIX • Ludmila P. Nastase, Spre Nilul Albastru. (Destinul unui basarabean - Petru V. Şciusev). • Măria V. Hasnas, Ziarul Basarabia - cîteva file de arhiva • Elena T. Postică, Contribuții la cercetarea activității administrației românești în Basarabia în primele luni ale Marii Uniri • Virgiliu Teodorescu, Monumentele ridicate în orașul Chișinău în 1918-1940 • О.Ю. Щипакина, Страницы былого • А.А. Кушнир, Оперная певица и педагог Лидия Бабич • А.М. Кракан, Академическая капеллa "Дойна" • Nadejda V. Lavric, Soarta dramatică a orașului basarabean • Д.А. Крупейников, Стали героми на земле Молдовы • И.Ф. Рыжова, Грустная память • Л.А. Репринцева, Депортация 1949 года в Молдавии в коллекциях Музея • Alexei P. Zagaievschi, Satul Cosăuți - file din istorie
IV. Muzeografie și arhivistică
• П.П. Старостенко, Музей Древностей Понта Скифского И.К. Суручана в Кишиневе • Eugenia V. Borodac, Cerințe la descrierea unor categorii de obiecte muzeistice • Gheorghe Rusu, Arhivele Statului din Iași. La 160 de ani de la înființare
German porcelain is highly prized among antique collectors for its exceptional material quality, originality, and the meticulous craftsmanship of its decorative design...
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
