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.
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. I [XVI], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie Chișinău, 2007
In the 70-ies of the 20th century two medieval monetary and ware hoards were accidentally unearthed. The first treasure was found near Sîngerei town, Sîngerei district and contained four pieces of jewellery and twenty nine coins. The other hoard was discovered at Hîjdieni village, Glodeni district and contained four objects and three coins.
The hoard from Sângerei includes 26 Lithuanian coins: 2 half groshes of Alexander’s I emission of 1495-1501, 6 half groshes of Sigismund II; 16 half groshes and 1 grosh of Sigismund II; a three grosh coin of Sigismund III Wasa. Prussia is represented by a grosh of the time of Albrecht I. Mariengrosh (1553) and a thaler of the time of Rudolf II emitted in 1597 represent Göttingen and Lübeck which were parts of the German Holy Roman Empire. Therefore, the half grosh of Alexander I coined in 1495-1501 is the earliest coin of the Sîngerei treasure. Thaler of the time of Rudolf II emitted in 1597 is the latest of the coins. Judging by that the objects of this hoard may be presumably dated to the end of the 15th -16th c., and the hoard could be dated to the end of the 16th century.
Coins from Hîjdieni village include two leeuwendaalders minted in Utrecht (United Provinces) in 1647 and 1648, and 28 Stubers of Emden town (German Holy Roman Empire) minted during the rule of Friedrich III (1637-1668). The fourth coin is a Lithuanian shilling of the time of Ian Kazimir Wasa (1648-1668) emitted in 1652.
In this period foreign and internal policy of Moldova substantially depended on relations with Turkey and Poland. The war of 1593-1606 in which Moldova was involved lead to destructive devastations which caused anti-Turkish protests. A military conflict of 1648-1654 between Poland and the revolted Cossacks of Bogdan Hmelnitskiy substantially affected the territory of Moldova and lead to its devastation and famine of 1650. These events could possibly be the reason for placing of the two hoards.
Анна Никулицэ
Golden and silver adornment objects discovered at the Aeneolithic and Bronze Age monuments (on the materials from the NMAHM collections
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. III [XVIII], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
Ana Niculiță
Regarding two medieval coin hoards from Florești district, Republic of Moldova
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. II [XVII], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
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
