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.
Geospatial and archaeological research in the micro-zone of Horodiște-Tipova
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. VIII [XXIII], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
From the right bank of the Dniester, north of the village of Țipova (Rezina District) begins a deep gorge with steep slopes. Near the village of Horodiște the gorge divides, forming a network of canyons which, in turn, outline a series of headlands.
As a result of study of orthophotoplans and archaeological reconnaissance in the micro-zone there was discovered an "agglomeration" of sites, consisting of six fortifi cations (Horodiște „La Cot", Horodiște „La Șanț", Horodiște II, Buciușca II, Buciușca III, Țipova III ) and two unfortifi ed settlements (fig. 2).
In order to investigate the defense system and to determine the period of its functioning at Horodiște „La Cot" and Horodiște „La Șanț" an archeological research was carried out (fi g. 3-7). As a result, it was found that these fortifi ed settlements were surrounded by "walls" consisting of two wooden facings with a fi lling of earth and stone.
The archaeological materials recovered from the filling of the "walls" indicate that the fortifi cation of Horodiște „La Şanț" functioned during the early Hallstatt (Cozia-Saharna culture), and one of Horodiște „La Cot" - in the 4th - 3rd centuries BC (fi g. 8-12).
Based on the compact arrangement of fortifi cations and unfortifi ed settlements in the micro-zone of Horodiște-Tipova, it can be assumed the existence of some formation in this space, the "administrative center" of which was the fortress of Horodiște "La Cot". The period of its existence is still not clear. But if we take into account that most of the fortified and unfortifi ed settlements in the Middle Dniester region functioned since the early Iron Age, it can be assumed that the community of the Horodiște-Tipova area settled down here around that time. However, it reaches its peak of development in the 4th - 3rd centuries BC, as well as neighboring communities around Saharna.
List of illustrations:
Fig. 1. 1 - Location of the Horodiște-Țipova micro-region; 2 - digital elevation map of the micro-region. Fig. 2. Orthophotomap of the Horodiște-Țipova micro-region (fortifi ed settlements: 1 - Horodiște „La Cot"; 2 - Horodiște „La Şanț", 3 - Horodiște II; 4 - Buciușca III; 5 - Ţipova III; 6 - Buciușca II; unfortifi ed settlements: 7 - Buciușca IV; 8 - Buciușca V) (by Google Earth). Fig. 3. Horodiște „La Cot". Section no. 1. Ruins of a defensive structure on the south side: 1 - plan and profi le of the section; 2 - vertical stratigraphic profi le of the debris of the wall; 3 - fragments of charred wood. Fig. 4. Horodiște „La Cot": 1 - view of the headland from the northeast; 2, 3 - orthophotomaps tracing anomalies of the defensive line on the northern, eastern and southern sides (by geoportal.md and Google Earth); 4, 5 - remains of the defensive system on the east side today; 6 - view of the headland from the southwest indicating the rampart „C"; 7, 8 - orthophotomaps indicating the defensive lines „A", „B" and „C" (by geoportal.md); 9 - view of the defensive lines „B" and „C" from the northwest. Fig. 5. Horodiște „La Şanț": 1 - view of the headland from the south-west; 2 - orthophotomap of the site; 3, 4 - contour of abnormalities of the defensive lines. Fig. 6. Horodiște „La Şanț": 1 - view of the defensive line no. 1 from the south; 2 - view of the defensive line no. 3 from the south. Fig. 7. Horodiște „La Şanț". Defensive line no. 3. Section no. 1/2013: 1 - plan and profile of the section; 2 - stones from the debris of the "wall"; 3 - vertical profi le of the defensive structure. Fig. 8. Horodiște „La Şanț". The fi nds from the debris of the "wall". Fig. 9. Horodiște „La Şanț". Fragments of pottery of the Cozia-Saharna type from the cultural layer. Fig. 10. Horodiște „La Şanț". The fi nds from the cultural layer (1, 2 - iron; 3 - stone; 4, 5 - clay). Fig. 11. Horodiște „La Şanț". Fragments of vessels from the cultural layer. Fig. 12. Horodiște „La Şanț". Fragments of pots from the cultural layer. Fig. 13. Horodiște II: 1 - view of the headland from the east; 2 - orthophotomap (by geoportal.md). Fig. 14. Buciușca II: 1 - view of the headland from the west; 2 - orthophotomap (by geoportal.md). Fig. 15. Buciușca III: 1 - view of the headland from the south; 2 - orthophotomap (by geoportal.md); 3 -orthophotomap (by Google Earth); 4 - ruins of the defensive system. Fig. 16. Ţipova III. View of the headland from the northeast.
Aurel Zanoci, Mihail Băț
Archeological researches conducted in 2007 at the Thracian-Getian settlement of Saharna „La Şanț”
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. II [XVII], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
Ion Niculiță, Aurel Zanoci, Mihail Băț, Sergiu Matveev
Archaeological investigations at the site of Saharna Mare (2009-2011) (I)
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. VI [XXI], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
Aurel Zanoci, Mihail Băț
Archeological researches conducted in 2006 at the Thracian-Getian settlement Saharna „La Şanț”
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. I [XVI], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică Chișinău, 2007
Aurel Zanoci
Typology and evolution of gates and access into early hallstattian fortresses in Tisa-Dniester space
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. IX [XXIV], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică Chișinău, 2015
Mihail Băț
Early Iron Age settlement in Ţahnăuţi, Rezina District
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. XI [XXVI], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
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
