#Exhibit of the Month

Porcelain is a material that has sparked great interest throughout history, and its production has been a true challenge. Also known as "white gold," porcelain is a white, translucent ceramic material obtained by firing a paste of kaolin, quartz, and feldspar, along with other additives, at high temperatures. It was first discovered and used in China. The first Chinese porcelain objects arrived in Europe in the 13th century, but a broader spread of Chinese porcelain on the European continent is recorded in the 17th century. The technology for producing porcelain was kept a secret by the Chinese for a very long time.

The first hard-paste porcelain manufactory in Europe, located in the city of Meissen, was established in 1710 due to discoveries in porcelain production made by Saxon mathematician and physicist Ehrenfried Walter von Tschirnhaus (1661-1708), which were put into practice by the royal court alchemist Johann Friedrich Böttger (1682-1718). He invented the glaze and achieved the complete fusion of the shard and the glaze. The Meissen factory, still operational today, has created and continues to create a vast range of porcelain products. Crafted by the finest artists, sculptors, and engravers, who use unique hand-painted colors and exclusive designs, Meissen products are of exceptional quality and elegance, enjoying worldwide fame.

The tea set, partially consisting of seven pieces (teapot, milk jug, sugar bowl, and two cups with saucers), displayed in this showcase, is a product of the famous Meissen factory in the Kingdom of Saxony, Germany. It was crafted in the first half of the 19th century from high-quality porcelain. The exhibit became part of the collection of the National Museum of History of Moldova through a transfer from the "G. Cotovschi" Memorial House in Hâncești, which was closed in 1989-1990.

The decoration of these pieces is remarkable, featuring hand-painted "German flowers," one of the well-known styles of floral and plant decoration practiced by Meissen craftsmen since the 18th century. They were influenced by Chinese porcelain, which was often adorned with images of flowers and fruits. A distinctive feature of this decorative style was the "scattered flowers" arrangement, where floral elements were placed as individual blossoms or bouquets across the surface of porcelain objects.

The marking on the underside of the pieces consists of two crossed swords, elements borrowed from the coat of arms of the Kingdom of Saxony, applied by hand with cobalt paint under the glaze. With slight variations in the representation of the swords, this mark has been used since 1722 and continues to the present day. The mark on this tea set is characterized by prominent dots on the crossed swords, a feature used at the Meissen factory between 1815 and 1860.

The polychrome floral painting, gilding, and the application of a rosebud on the lids of the teapot and sugar bowl lend a sublime delicacy to these pieces, making them rare and exquisite.

Virtual Tour

Exhibitions

"War Up Close"

August 21 – November 20, 2024

The National Museum of History of Moldova is pleased to announce the opening of the virtual reality exhibition "War Up Close" on August 21, 2024, at 4:00 PM. This exhibition is organized in partnership with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation's Moldova Office.

"War Up Close" is a virtual reality exhibition aimed at showcasing the scale of the disaster caused by Russia's unjustified war on Ukraine. Through 360-degree panoramic photographs, drone images, and 3D modeling, the exhibition makes the nature of this war tangible, highlighting the destruction of civilian infrastructure and the suffering of millions of Ukrainians.

The exhibition immerses visitors in pre- and post-war images, offering a raw, unfiltered view of the human cost of Russia's aggression in Ukraine. It also provides visitors with the opportunity to "walk through" and virtually explore areas, viewing 360-degree images from fixed locations via viewing devices.

The project was initiated by experts from Ukraine's Discover.ua and FreegenGroup, who, despite the dangers, mapped the crimes against Ukraine for future generations to preserve the memory of this tragedy using experienced photojournalists and state-of-the-art technology.

Mykola Omelchenko, Ukraine's first Google Trusted Photographer, began photographing for "War Up Close" during a period when the Russian government denied responsibility for military strikes on non-military targets, such as residential areas and cultural centers, claiming instead that the Ukrainian government was falsifying or altering images of the destruction. Omelchenko wanted people to explore the images themselves, so they are presented without captions or commentary. "The essential goal of the project is to show the reality of war in a way that it can no longer be denied," stated Omelchenko.

The "War Up Close" project team works closely with Ukraine's Emergency Service, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Culture, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The panoramic views and drone images assist rescue teams in removing debris and assessing the true impact of the destruction. The team also specializes in 3D modeling of historical monuments and buildings.

The exhibition also includes a selection of war-time artifacts and links to 360-degree images that can be viewed without virtual reality equipment.

Since its launch in 2022, "War Up Close" has been presented in locations worldwide, including Europe, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Australia, and North America, attracting a significant number of visitors. For more information, visit https://war.city.

The exhibition "War Up Close" will be open from August 21 to November 20, 2024, in Hall No. 2 of the National Museum of History of Moldova, Chișinău, 31 August 1989 Street, 121A.

#Exhibit of the Month

MEISSEN Tea Set

"War Up Close"

August 21 – November 20, 2024

#Exhibit of the Month