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.
Jewish merchants' role in expanding trade relations between the Russian Empire and the Principality of Moldova in the late 18th and early 19th centuries
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. VIII [XXIII], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
The article highlights the importance of Jewish merchants’ activity in maintaining and expanding trade relations between the Russian Empire and the Principality of Moldova at the end of the 18th century and the beginning of the 19th century. Many of the Jews involved in the Moldavian-Russian economic relations constituted a separate privileged category in the socio-economic life of Moldavian towns. The predominance of Jews in the domestic market of Moldova was due to the fact that under the imperial decree of 1804 the Jews were granted the right to live in 15 provinces of western Russia. They held in their hands the most important branches of trade: grain, alcohol, salt etc. Despite the negative aspects of the Jewish merchants’ activities, which hampered the development of the Romanian national commercial bourgeoisie, it is undeniable that it had a positive impact on the development of local production.
Through their business activities, Jewish merchants played an important role in trade relations between the Moldovan principality and the Russian Empire. Although some of the representatives of this ethnic group were involved in smuggling and other illegal activities, the Jews contributed to the introduction of joint stock companies, especially insurance companies, and contributed greatly to the spread of securities. Due to their methods of making a profit, they unwittingly helped to modernize the forms of production and trade. And it is precisely the Jews spread in the Romanian environment the practice of lending money at interest and guarantees.
Irina Cereș
Impact of the high taxes imposed upon the population of Romanian principalities during the Russian-Turkish war of 1806-1812
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. V [XX], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Irina Cereș
Aspects of economic relations between the Russian Empire and the Principality of Moldova in the late 18th - early 19th centuries
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. VII [XXII], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Irina Cereș
Imports from the Russian Empire into the Principality of Moldavia at the end of the 18th century - the beginning of the 19th century
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. X [XXV], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Irina Cereș
The role of the commercial bourgeoisie in the expansion of trade relations between the Russian Empire and the Principality of Moldova during the Russian-Turkish war of 1806-1812
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. VI [XXI], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Irina Cereș
The export of goods from the Principality of Moldova into the Russian Empire at end of the 18th century - the beginning of the 19th century
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. IX [XXIV], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie Chișinău, 2015
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
