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.
Serghei Agulnicov, Eugen Mistreanu, Sergiu Popovici
Tumuli (kurgans) from Brînzenii Noi and Rogojeni (Rescue Archaeological Research 2013)
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. VIII [XXIII], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
This article puts in the scientifi c use results of rescue research of the mound (tumulus) no.1 from the village of Brânzenii Noi (Telenești District) and the mound (tumulus) no.1 from the village of Rogojeni (Şoldănești District). The vast majority of burials in the mounds studied belong to the Yamna culture, Early Bronze Age. One burial from the mound 1 in Brînzenii Noi refers to antiquities of the Noua culture, Late Bronze Age. In conclusion, the authors consider the issues of coexistence of the Late Yamna culture tribes with the bearers of the Catacomb culture in such a peculiar ecological niche as the fl oodplain of the Middle Răut.
List of illustrations:
Fig. 1. Geographical location of the researched tumuli (kurgans): 1 - Brânzenii Noi village, Telenești District; 2 - Rogojeni village, Șoldănești District. Fig. 2. The terrain map with the location of the tumuli (kurgans) and necropolises studied in the lower riches of the Middle Răut: I - the kurgan from Orhei; II - tumular necropolis from Braviceni; III - tumular necropolis from Ciocîlteni; IV - burial mounds from Codrul Nou. Fig. 3. Brânzenii Noi. Tumulus (kurgan) no. 1. Plan and sections. Fig. 4. Brânzenii Noi. Tumulus (kurgan) no. 1. Tomb no. 1, stone fi lling. Fig. 5. Brânzenii Noi. Tumulus (kurgan) no. 1: 1 - tomb no. 1; 2 - tomb no. 3; 3 - temple ring from the tomb no. 2; 4 - vessel from the tomb no. 1; 5 - tomb no. 2. Fig. 6. Brânzenii Noi. Tumulus (kurgan) no. 1. Tomb no. 4. Fig. 7. Rogojeni. Tumulus (kurgan) no. 1. Plan and sections. Fig. 8. Rogojeni. Tumulus (kurgan) no. 1: 1 - tomb no. 1; 2 - vessel from the tomb no. 1; 3 - tomb no. 2; 4 - vessel from the tomb no. 2. Fig. 9. Rogojeni. Tumulus (kurgan) no. 1: 1 - anthropomorphic stele; 2, 3 - fl int fl ake. Fig. 10. Brânzenii Noi. Tumulus (kurgan) no. 1: 1 - vessel from tomb no. 1; 2 - vessel from tomb no. 1 (photo in situ). Rogojeni. Tumulus (kurgan) no. 1: 3 - vessel from tomb no. 1; 4 - vessel from tomb no. 1 (photo in situ); 5 - vessel from tomb no. 2, 6 - vessel from tomb no. 1 (photo in situ).
Eugen Mistreanu
Pottery of the Gumelniţa culture, discovered in the village of Ciobalaccia, Cantemir District
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. XV [XXX], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică, Chişinău, 2021
Eugen Mistreanu
New data on Gumelnița communities in the Yalpug River microzone
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. XVII [XXXII], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
Sergiu Popovici
Aurel Vîlcu, Theodor Isvoranu, Eugen Nicolae, Les Monnaies d'or de l'Institut d'Arheologie de Bucarest, Moneta, Wetteren 2006, 253 p., abrevieri, indice de catalog, 32 planșe, 884 fi g., 1 hartă, ISBN 90-77297-29-4
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. I [XVI], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
Eugen Mistreanu
Settlements of Gumelniţa culture in the Prut-Dniester area (catalog)
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. XIII [XXVIII], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
Сергей М. Агульников
The Belozerka culture horizon from the settlement Kriničnoe
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. I [XVI], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
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.
31 August 1989 St., 121 A, MD 2012, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova
