The music is recorded on a cylinder with pins. The interior is divided into three compartments: the first contains the crank and the mechanism that operates the cylinder with pins, the second - the cylinder with pins and vibrating lamellae, and the third - two levers for starting and stopping the melody. The cylinder holds seven melodies by W.A. Mozart, which are played through the vibration of steel teeth arranged in a comb, whose tips are adjacent to the cylinder. The lid of the box features floral marquetry on its outer surface. This cultural asset is classified under the "Tezaur" category.
The Story of Musical Boxes
Musical boxes originated in Switzerland at the end of the 18th century. In 1796, watchmaker Antoine Favre-Salomon invented a pocket watch with an incorporated musical mechanism, using the principle of tuned metal lamellae. The invention quickly spread, soon leading to the creation of musical boxes independent of watches.
Initially invented and built for the salon entertainment of the aristocracy, musical boxes quickly evolved, capturing the market and public interest with these entertainment machines. The musical box industry was predominantly centered in Switzerland. Geneva remains the cradle of the musical box, even though the art of crafting these musical wonders spread to other regions of Switzerland - such as Jura, Auberson, and Sainte Croix - and later to other countries, including France, Germany, and Czechoslovakia. Some of the most notable manufacturers of musical boxes include: Mermod Frères, Paillard, Reuge, Thorens, Cuendet, Junod, Nicole Frères, Ducommun-Girod, Brémond, and L'Epee.
The musical box operated on a relatively simple principle: a cylinder with pins (cylindrical pins) would, through rotation, actuate a metal "comb" tuned to specific musical notes, both being concealed from view in one of the box's compartments. By turning the cylinder - with the help of a spring mechanism (similar to that of watches) - the pins would strike the steel "teeth" of the comb, causing them to vibrate and produce different musical notes. A musical box could have a limited number of melodies "programmed" onto the cylinder - from 4 to 12.
Over time, the cylinders were replaced with interchangeable metal discs. Based on this operating principle, large musical boxes emerged in cafés and taverns, which could be activated by inserting a coin, allowing users to select their preferred disc.
Besides the ingenious mechanism, musical boxes also stood out for the artistry of their exterior decorations, featuring materials such as precious woods, mother-of-pearl, ivory, and metal.
The decline of musical boxes began with the invention of the phonograph (1877) and the gramophone (1887). Production continued for a while, but by the early 20th century, most renowned companies had abandoned the business and started manufacturing other mechanical musical instruments.
Ekaterinovka – single-layer settlement of the Sântana de Mureș-Chernyakhov culture
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. IX [XXIV], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică Chișinău, 2015
Abstract
In 1978, on a single-layer settlement of the Sântana de Mureș-Chernyakhov culture near the village of Ecaterinovca (Cimișlia District) rescue excavations were carried out. On an area of a bout 1,800 sq. m. there were identified three ground pillar structures, one of which served as a dwelling while the other two were of household destination, a dugout without heating facilities, two storage pits with burnt walls, garbage pits, many pits of poles, as well as a remote wattle-and-daub frame oven. In one of the storage pits there were found five whole vessels: three large seed vessels with the remnants of charred millet, a massive wide-necked red-figure amphora with fluted body and helmet bottom, and a narrow-necked gray-clay single-handed jug. The range of fine and cooking ware is common for sites of this culture. Fragments of rough and smooth gray wheel-made pottery prevail; there are fragments of amphorae made of red clay and light-colored clay. The percentage of hand-modeled ceramics is negligible. There were found individual objects made of clay, iron, stone, bone, glass, and bronze. Based on the dating of the widenecked amphora and a bronze fibula the Ecaterinovca settlement dates back to the 4th century.
List of illustrations: Fig. 1. Location of the Ecaterinovca settlement on the topographic map (1) and the map of the Republic of Moldova (2). Fig. 2. Ecaterinovca. Plan of the bottom part of the excavation III. Fig. 3. Ecaterinovca. Excavation III. Plans and sections of structures: 1 - pit 1A, 2 - pit 2A, 3 - oven 1. Fig. 4. Ecaterinovca. Plan of the bottom part of the excavation IV. Fig. 5. Ecaterinovca. Individual founds: 1-4 - of glass and glass paste; 6, 8, 11 - of iron; 7 - of bronze; 9, 12, 13, 15 - of clay; 14, 16 - of stone. Fig. 6. Ecaterinovca. Excavation IV. Plans and sections of structures: 1 - pit 1A, 2 - dugout 1. Fig. 7. Ecaterinovca. Pottery: 1-3 - from the filling of the pit 1A, excavation IV; 4 - from the filling of the pit 1A, excavation III. Fig. 8. Ecaterinovca. Pottery from the filling of the pit 1A, excavation IV.
Иван Власенко
Late residential compounds of the early medieval settlement Rudi
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. II [XVII], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
Иван Власенко
Defensive system of citadel Mereșeuca-Cetățuie
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. IV [XIX], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
Иван Власенко
Early medieval bone handles of knives with annular notches as one of the possible signs of ethnic attribution of the Tivertsi
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. XIII [XXVIII], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
Иван Власенко
The results of archaeological exploration in central and northern regions of the Republic of Moldova
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. VI [XXI], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
Иван Власенко
Hallstatt cultural-chronological horizons of multilevel settlement Ivancea II
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. I [XVI], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică Chișinău, 2007
The music is recorded on a cylinder with pins. The interior is divided into three compartments: the first contains the crank and the mechanism that operates the cylinder with pins, the second - the cylinder with pins and vibrating lamellae, and the third - two levers for starting and stopping the melody...
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
