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.
Political and Legal Status of Tara Moldovei in a New Historical Source – Moldovan Chronicle of Cracovia
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. III [XVIII], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
The new historical source, Moldovan Chronicle of Cracovia (Cronica Moldovei de la Cracovia), written by an anonymous author and introduced in the scientific circulation by the notorious historian Constantin Rezachevici, brings to light new details concerning Moldovan history of the XIVth - beginning of XVIIth centuries. Those, coordinated with other sources, could contribute to the clarifying of some controversial problems. The maximum attention should be paid to some unknown information from the Chronicle that can not be found in other sources. At the same time, we can expect different interpretations from the historians of the information Chronicle offers, as well as of the work in its integrity, and that should be treated as an ordinary thing.
Ion Eremia
Antoine François Le Clerc, Memoriu Topografi c și Statistic asupra Basarabiei, Valahiei și Moldovei, Provincii ale Turciei în Europa. Ediție îngrijită, studiu introductiv, note și comentarii de Ioan-Aurel Pop și Sorin Şipoș. Traducere din limba franceză de Delia-Maria Radu; însoțită de reproducerea manuscrisului original. Institutul Cultural Român. Cluj-Napoca, 2004. LII +90 p.
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. II [XVII], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Ion Eremia
”One of forty sobols” – bag of sobols that included 40 sables?
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. IV [XIX], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Ion Eremia
Valentina Eșanu, Andrei Eșanu, Bogdan al II-lea și Maria Oltea – părinții lui Ştefan cel Mare și Sfânt. Chișinău, Prut Internațional, 2007, 160 p. +Anexă: Voievozii Ţării Moldovei de la Bogdan I până la Ştefan cel Mare și Sfânt și urmașii lui
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. II [XVII], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Ion Eremia
Some considerations related to the borders of the Principality of Moldavia in the second half of 14th century – Pocutsia and Colomeea
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. IV [XIX], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Ion Eremia
Mihai Maxim, O istorie a relațiilor româno-otomane, cu documente noi din arhivele turcești. Vol. I. Perioada clasică (1400-1600), Brăila: Editura Istros a Muzeului Brăilei, 2012, 606 p. ISBN 978-606-654-026-1
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. VIII [XXIII], 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.