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.
Palaeoethnobotanical materials from Znamenskoe hill-fort and Dyakovo culture grain production
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. IX [XXIV], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică Chișinău, 2015
Abstract
The article provides an overview of the study of palaeoethnobotanical materials of Dyakovo culture. It introduces in the scientific circulation new materials from Znamenskoe hill-fort. A statistical analysis of the data obtained from the settlement was carried out. The authors have conducted a comparative analysis of representative materials from the whole Dyakovo culture. On the basis of the whole complex of data on palaeoethnobotanical materials of the Dyakovo culture there was analyzed grain production and changes in it during the first periods of this culture (from the 7th century BC to the 4th century AD). The results do not pretend to be the final decision; they only specify the general trend for all «forest» cultures, to which N.A. Kiryanova has already drawn attention.
List of illustrations: Fig. 1. Imprints of millet on a weight. Fig. 2. Diagram of correlation of grains from Znamenskoe hill-fort: а - quantity; б - mass. Legend: P. m. - Panicum miliaceum (millet); H. v. - Hordeum vulgare (barley); T. d. - Triticum dicoccon (emmer wheat); T. a. s. l. - Triticum aestivum s. l. (common wheat); 1 – 7th-3rd centuries BC.; 2 - combined data; 3 - fi rst centuries AD. Fig. 3. Map of Dyakovo culture sites with established palaeoethnobotanical spectrum (PBS): 1 - Nastas’ino; 2 - Znamenskoe; 3 - Dyakovo; 4 - Otmichi; 5 - Rostislavl’. Fig. 4. Comparative diagram of the PBS of Dyakovo sites: а - quantity; б - mass. Legend: P. m. - Panicum miliaceum (millet); H. v. - Hordeum vulgare (barley); T. sp. - Triticum sp. (wheat) (numbering of sites see at table 2). Fig. 5. Cluster analysis of PBS data (numbering of sites see at table 2). Fig. 6. Graph of changes of Dyakovo culture grain production in course of time: I - data on the sites; II - theoretical curves of changes in the mass ratio of cereals in course of time. Legend: P. m. - Panicum miliaceum (millet); H. v. - Hordeum vulgare (barley); T. sp. - Triticum sp. (wheat) (numbering of sites see at table 2)
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
