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.
Considerations regarding the catholic dioceses founded by the popes of Avignon outside the Carpathians: the bishopric of Milcova and the bishopric of Siret
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. VIII [XXIII], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Between 1309 and 1377 the papacy moved its headquarters from Rome to Avignon. Nevertheless, the interest shown by the French pontiffs towards Eastern Europe did not diminish, but stayed the same. Considering the appreciable distance between the papal residence in the south of France and the outer part of the Carpathians, an engagement from the part of the pontiffs in this area was inconceivable without the support of the secular power. During their stay at Avignon, the French pontiffs created two dioceses outside the Carpathians: the bishopric of Milcovia, the successor of the Cumans' bishopric, and the bishopric of Siret, founded at the initiative of Lațcu, the voivode of Moldavia. As to the bishopric of Milcova, the initiative came from pope Joan XXII in the year 1332. Subsequently, the existence of this bishopric found itself in a close relation with the projects of political control of Louis I of Anjou, the king of Hungary, outside the Carpathians. Even if, practically, it was an "in partibus'' bishopric, the diocese of Milcovia had titulars all through the 14th century. In the case of the Catholic bishopric of Siret, the foundation of this ecclesiastic union (1370-1371) was made at the initiative of voivode Lațcu of Moldavia, whose desire was to ensure the recently gained independence of his state, against the claims of Hungary and Poland, addressing pope Urban V through two Franciscan monks. Lațcu demanded that Andrew, a Polish Franciscan, should be appointed bishop of Siret. The foundation of the bishopric of Siret was to guarantee the independence of Moldavia, assimilated to a "regnum'', granting its leader, Lațcu, an undisputed illegitimacy from the part of any other Catholic prince. In our opinion, these are elements that enable us to state that during the times of Lațcu Moldova was part St.Peter's Patrimony.
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
