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.
The Peace Congress of Paris in 1856. Franco-Russian relations and the Romanian Question
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. IX [XXIV], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie Chișinău, 2015
Abstract
40 years after the Congress of Vienna that ended the Napoleonic Wars, European diplomats gathered in Paris. France, together with England, managed to defeat Russia in the Crimean War, and now it was crowned with the laurels of success. On the agenda of foreign policy of the Great Powers appeared Romanian question. Despite the fact that Russia was defeated, it approached to France as a result of secret negotiations between the Duke de Morny and Russian ambassador in Vienna Gorchakov in 1855.
The Congress of Paris in 1856 demonstrated evidence of this rapprochement. France put forward for discussion the question of the union of two Romanian principalities that suddenly found support from Russia, which wanted to be rehabilitated to Romanians and looked for an opportunity to destroy the Franco-British alliance. Despite this, both countries warring at the time of the Crimean War, cooperated in implementing the desires of Romanians, and sometimes France was ready to concede to Russians. The Congress of Paris did not give a definitive solution on the question because of divergent views of the Great Powers, but managed to find support from Russia.
Eugen-Tudor Sclifos
Bessarabian question reflected in the reports of the French ambassador in Petersburg Charles Auguste de Morny (1856-1857)
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. X [XXV], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Eugen-Tudor Sclifos
Romanian- Russian relations and the Bessarabian issue in the Romanian press (1877-1878)
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. XVIII [XXXIII], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Eugen-Tudor Sclifos
Documents on Bessarabia in the Archives of Foreign Aff airs in Paris (1856-1857)
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. XI [XXVI], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Eugen-Tudor Sclifos
Prince Mihail Sturdza and his relations with Russia
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. VIII [XXIII], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Eugen-Tudor Sclifos
The Bolgrad issue in the reports of the British ambassador to St. Petersburg, John Wodehouse
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. XIX [XXXIV], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie, Chişinău, 2025
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.