#Exhibit of the Month

In the dazzling world of precious stones and noble metals, certain jewelers stand out, mastering the art of harmonizing understated elegance with absolute refinement, genius with design, and sophistication with eternal, unforgettable splendor.
The name Fabergé, emblematic of originality and synonymous with the creations of a legendary house, has left an indelible mark on the history of jewelry and decorative arts. Renowned for uniting jewelry, artistic design, and utility into objets de luxe and objets de fantaisie, Fabergé's creations have always captivated with their exquisite craftsmanship. Fashioned from gold, silver, enamel, and precious stones, the pieces produced in Fabergé's workshops testify to exceptional virtuosity, marked by meticulous attention to detail and perfect material harmony. Even works inspired by earlier stylistic vocabularies bear the unmistakable mark of originality.

The National Museum of History of Moldova treasures a spectacular ladle, crafted in Fabergé's workshops in the late 19th century.
The Fabergé ladle is a curious blend of the "Russian style" and the "modern style." Made of solid silver, it features a circular, gold-plated bowl. Its raised, stylized handle (hook-shaped) is adorned with vegetal motifs, triple rings, and silver pearls. The rim is embellished with a wide band composed of rectangular medallions, decorated with spiral loops and stylized scales arranged alternately. The bowl is supported by four hemispherical feet. At the center, engraved inscriptions read: Eugenie von Platonow/St. Petersburg and ТОРГОВЫЙ ДОМЪ „АЛЕКСАНДРЪ"/1863/15/10/1913.
Research suggests that this ladle was commissioned by Alexander Trauberg, a first-guild merchant and owner of the "АЛЕКСАНДРЪ" Trading House located at Nevsky Boulevard 11, St. Petersburg. It was likely created to mark the 50th anniversary of his business in 1913.
The hallmark stamped on the base-Fabergé's K. ФАБЕРЖЕ logo surmounted by the Russian Empire's coat of arms, alongside the female profile in a kokoshnik within an oval frame, accompanied by the Greek letter Δ (delta) and the silver purity standard "88"-confirms that the piece was produced by Fabergé's Moscow branch.
The hypnotic charm of Fabergé's creations defined the aesthetic ideals of an era, embodying exuberance and refinement, crafted by a jeweler to kings and a king among jewelers.

Virtual Tour

Exhibitions

„Moldova’s Davas”

(Thracian-Getae citadels from the interfluves of Prut and Dniester Rivers at 70 years from the beginning of research)

20 September – 31 October 2016

The exhibition "Moldova's Davas" was organized as part of European Heritage Days and celebrates the 70th anniversary from the beginning of archaeological research at Thracian-Getae citadels from the territory of the Republic of Moldova. The exhibition brings together about 160 archaeological pieces from the collections of the National Museum of History of Moldova and the Museum of Antiquities "Tudor Arnăut" from the State University of Moldova. Archaeological exhibits are represented by ceramic vessels of various shapes and sizes, tools, weapons, clothing items and jewelry, religious objects etc.

The first Thracian-Getae citadels from the interfluves of the Prut and Dniester Rivers were identified in the interwar period. However, their repertoire and research began only after World War II. Researcher G. D. Smirnov has a great merit in discovering and researching fortified sites dated with the 6th-3rd centuries BC. He conducted several surveys in 1946 in the basin of the Middle Dniester, Lower Răut and the basin of Botna Rivers. As a result, were discovered the citadels from Saharna Mare, Saharna Mică, Saharna „Revechin", Butuceni, Trebujeni „Potârca", Horodca Mare, Horodca Mică etc. In the same year, on 29th August have begun archaeological excavations headed by G. D. Smirnov at Saharna Mare, the first Thracian-Getae citadel subject to archaeological research on the territory of the Republic of Moldova.

Archaeological surveys and research at Thracian-Getae citadels continued in the following decades and lead to discovering other 80 similar sites.

Following archeological research conducted over the past 70 years, have been recovered numerous and varied artifacts, many of which are today preserved in the collections of the National Museum of History of Moldova.

A special place in the exhibition is held by ceramic vessels of various shapes and sizes discovered from the excavations of G.D. Smirnov at Butuceni and recent research from Saharna Mare, Saharna „Revechin", Trebujeni „Potârca", Horodca Mică, Rudi etc.

Daily activity in the Thracian-Getae citadels is shown in the exhibition by many tools, such as axes, sickles, knives and many different other iron objects. Also, are displayed spindles of different sizes and shapes, used by inhabitants of the citadels in spinning wool, flax etc.

An important role in determining the military character of the citadels are findings of weapons attested at most sites where archaeological excavations have been conducted. The weapons are represented in the exhibition by numerous arrowheads made of bronze.

Another important category of findings shown in the exhibition is jewelry, clothing and toiletries, presented by mirrors, brooches, bracelets, rings etc., made of silver, bronze and iron.

Existing relations between the communities who inhabited the Thracian-Getae citadels and settlements from surrounding areas and the Greek civilization is demonstrated by numerous imported items: amphorae, luxury tableware, jewelry etc. This artifact category is shown in the exhibition by Lekane, whole and fragmented amphorae that come from famous Greek centers of Chios, Thasos, Pontic Heraclea, Sinope etc.

The exhibition contains also a series of posters with maps, orthophotoplans, overview images of the citadels, photos showing the defensive walls and ditches, images from the archeological excavations etc.