#Exhibit of the Month

German porcelain is highly prized among antique collectors for its exceptional material quality, originality, and the meticulous craftsmanship of its decorative design.
The museum's collection preserves five figurines from one of the oldest porcelain manufactories in the Thuringia region of Germany - the statuary group known as *"The Musicians"*, crafted at the Volkstedt manufactory. These pieces entered the museum's holdings in 1991, acquired from a resident of Chișinău. With undeniable historical and artistic value, they bear the distinct imprint of the Rococo style.
The Volkstedt manufactory has a long-standing tradition in producing figurines, including those depicting musicians. In 1760, Georg Heinrich Macheleid - inventor of hard-paste porcelain in Thuringia - founded a production workshop in Zitzendorf, which was relocated to Volkstedt in 1762. Macheleid led the manufactory until 1764. Over time, the factory changed ownership and management multiple times. Under the direction of Christian Nonne, it flourished between 1767 and 1797, a period marked by significant artistic development. Volkstedt began creating figurines that would later gain international recognition.
It was during this flourishing period that the museum's porcelain statuettes, titled *"The Musicians"*, were produced. They depict five cherubic figures: four playing musical instruments (flute, mandolin, horn, and pipe), while the fifth conducts. Each figurine is entirely handcrafted - from modeling to painting - and delicately adorned with pastel tones and gilded details, capturing the playful movement and refined artistry of each musician. The base is made of mass-colored porcelain in a rare grey-green hue. The contrast between green, white, and gold accents lends the ensemble an unusually delicate appearance. These ornamental features are characteristic of the Rococo style, which emerged in France and is closely associated with the reign of King Louis XV.

The mark applied to the figurines consists of two crossed forks, clearly rendered in underglaze blue, with slightly blurred paint - a detail that helps date their production. Because the crossed forks often resembled the crossed swords of the Meissen trademark, the Volkstedt manufactory was compelled to change its mark starting in 1787. Initially represented by a single fork, the mark briefly returned to two forks before being replaced in 1800 by the graphic symbol "R", referencing the town of Rudolstadt. Therefore, the brief period during which the two-fork mark was reinstated - and during which the museum's figurines were likely produced - is estimated to be between 1787 and 1800.

The statuettes range in height from 10 to 18 cm and are preserved in relatively good condition.

These late 18th-century German porcelain pieces, now on display, are exceptionally rare. They stand as true works of art by German craftsmen and serve as important historical testimonies to the evolution of porcelain manufacturing in Germany.

Virtual Tour

Services

Admission to Exhibitions

Entrance fees:

General Admission:

Adults - 50 lei
Pensioners, students - 20 lei
Pupils - 10 lei

Free admission:
Preschool children (under 7 years old), Children from residential institutions, Children with disabilities (under 18 years old) and their companions,Adults with severe and accentuated disabilities (disability degrees I and II), Conscripts, Official and cultural delegations (within the museum's operating hours), Employees of the national museum network, the Ministry of Culture, and national cultural heritage institutions, Holders of ICOM and ICOMOS cards.

Free entry for all visitors: the last Thursday of the month.

Closed: Monday and on January 1, 7, and 8; March 8; the first and second day of Easter; May 1 and 9; August 27 and 31; October 14; December 25.

Guided Tours

The museum offers guided tours in Romanian, Russian, and English upon request for organized groups or individual visitors (groups of 5 to 30 people). Tours must be scheduled at least 24 hours in advance by phone (022240426) or email (muzeuldeistorie@gmail.com), specifying the date, time, group profile and size, and preferred language.

Guided Tour Fees:

For a group of 5 to 30 people:
Adults - 150 lei
Students, pupils, pensioners - 100 lei

Guided tours in foreign languages (Russian, English):

Adults - 300 lei
Students, pupils, pensioners - 200 lei

Free guided tours:
For children from residential institutions and military conscripts.

Educational Activities

Fees (per hour):

Educational Workshops - 20 MDL
Interactive Lessons - 20 MDL

Photo and Video Filming in the Museum

Photographing/Scanning Museum Pieces

For a museum piece - 250 MDL
For reproduction of a piece, commercial publications - 1000 MDL
Special video/photo shoots in museum rooms
(per hour) - 1500 MDL

Photography or photocopying of the Museum exhibit items by juridical persons is possible only with the permission from the Museum administration, obtained in written form.

Specialized assistance

Selection of textual and illustrative material from the Museum's Heritage - 30 MDL

Approval of exhibition documentation (for one author's sheet) 500 MDL

Expert Examination of Cultural Values

• in the Museum: 150 MDL for an object;
• within the city limits: 300 MDL for an object;
• outside the city: additionally includes the traveling and accommodation costs, at the expense of a client

Library

The Museum Library’s collection includes more than 10,000 books on a wide range of subjects, such as archaeology, history, museum studies, and scholarly reference works of interest to the Museum staff. The Library is also available to the public.

Costs:

to borrow a book: 5 MDL / a day;

Rent of Museum Space

The 1^st floor hall and the temporary exhibition room may be rented for temporary exhibitions, scientific and cultural events. For additional information and reservations, contact the Accounts Department, by phone: + 373 (22) 23-82-69, or the Deputy Director for Public Relations, by phone: + 373 (22) 23-83-13.

Museum Shop

In the Museum Shop can be purchased publications concerned archaeology and history of Moldova, exhibition catalogues, booklets and museum guides, and replicas of exhibit items are available.