Porcelain is a material that has sparked great interest throughout history, and its production has been a true challenge. Also known as "white gold," porcelain is a white, translucent ceramic material obtained by firing a paste of kaolin, quartz, and feldspar, along with other additives, at high temperatures. It was first discovered and used in China. The first Chinese porcelain objects arrived in Europe in the 13th century, but a broader spread of Chinese porcelain on the European continent is recorded in the 17th century. The technology for producing porcelain was kept a secret by the Chinese for a very long time.
The first hard-paste porcelain manufactory in Europe, located in the city of Meissen, was established in 1710 due to discoveries in porcelain production made by Saxon mathematician and physicist Ehrenfried Walter von Tschirnhaus (1661-1708), which were put into practice by the royal court alchemist Johann Friedrich Böttger (1682-1718). He invented the glaze and achieved the complete fusion of the shard and the glaze. The Meissen factory, still operational today, has created and continues to create a vast range of porcelain products. Crafted by the finest artists, sculptors, and engravers, who use unique hand-painted colors and exclusive designs, Meissen products are of exceptional quality and elegance, enjoying worldwide fame.
The tea set, partially consisting of seven pieces (teapot, milk jug, sugar bowl, and two cups with saucers), displayed in this showcase, is a product of the famous Meissen factory in the Kingdom of Saxony, Germany. It was crafted in the first half of the 19th century from high-quality porcelain. The exhibit became part of the collection of the National Museum of History of Moldova through a transfer from the "G. Cotovschi" Memorial House in Hâncești, which was closed in 1989-1990.
The decoration of these pieces is remarkable, featuring hand-painted "German flowers," one of the well-known styles of floral and plant decoration practiced by Meissen craftsmen since the 18th century. They were influenced by Chinese porcelain, which was often adorned with images of flowers and fruits. A distinctive feature of this decorative style was the "scattered flowers" arrangement, where floral elements were placed as individual blossoms or bouquets across the surface of porcelain objects.
The marking on the underside of the pieces consists of two crossed swords, elements borrowed from the coat of arms of the Kingdom of Saxony, applied by hand with cobalt paint under the glaze. With slight variations in the representation of the swords, this mark has been used since 1722 and continues to the present day. The mark on this tea set is characterized by prominent dots on the crossed swords, a feature used at the Meissen factory between 1815 and 1860.
The polychrome floral painting, gilding, and the application of a rosebud on the lids of the teapot and sugar bowl lend a sublime delicacy to these pieces, making them rare and exquisite.
L’atelier d’orfévrerie du Chisinau dans les 1966-1972 année
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. III [XVIII], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Dans cet article l’auteur parle sur l’atelier des objets d’orfévrerie du Chișinău du 1966-1972 années et présente les principales traites de l’orfévrerie nationale. Cet atelier a formé le fondement de l’activite de la Fabrique de Bijoux du Chișinău, fondé à 1972 année. Les bijoux sont confectionnent par les spécialistes réputés, qui utilisent les metaux et les pierres précieux. Pendant les 1944-1972 années au Moldova ont fonctionné les entreprise ou sont confectionné des joailleries – la Fabrique “Elektroshirpotreb”, la Fabrique “Elektrometalloremont” et la Fabrique “Progress”, fondé à 1958 année. L’appréciation et l’évaluation des bijoux est réalisé dans le Bireau de la Odessa.
Liliana Condraticova
L’activité des orfévres de Moldova pendant les années ’70-’80 du XX-ém siécle (l’activité de la Fabrique de Bijoux de Chișinău)
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. IV [XIX], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Liliana Condraticova
Artistic processing of metal in the Dniester-Prut interfluve. Typology of articles made by local jewelers
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. VI [XXI], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Liliana Condraticova
Archival documents as a source for the research of jewelry for church use
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. VIII [XXIII], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Liliana Condraticova
Ion Xenofontov, Războiul din Afghanistan (1979-1989) în memoria participanților din Republica Moldova. Realitatea istorică și imaginarul social. Iași: Lumen, 2010, 544 p.
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. V [XX], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Liliana Condraticova
L’orfèvrerie ecclésiastique du Bessarabie (1812- 1827)
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. VII [XXII], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Porcelain is a material that has sparked great interest throughout history, and its production has been a true challenge. Also known as "white gold," porcelain is a white, translucent ceramic material obtained by firing a paste of kaolin, quartz, and feldspar, along with other additives, at high temperatures...
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.