#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.

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Events Archive

“Echoes of War” exhibition Opens in Moldova

4 October, 2023

"Echoes of War" by a Syrian photojournalist, Omar Sanadiki opened on 4 October in the National Museum of History of Moldova. The exhibition depicts two distant, yet intertwined wars in Syria and in Ukraine. The photos in Ukraine were shot in June this year, and were brought to Chişinău by the European External Action Service (EEAS) as a collaborative project with the photographer. "Echoes of War" will stay on show until 31 October at the Museum.

In his captivating photos, Sanadiki provides a reflective visual journey contrasting the turbulent atmospheres from the war that broke out in 2011 in Syria with those captured in 2023 in Ukraine. Sanadiki documents the war in Syria since its first day, photographing the destruction and the lives of the inhabitants of Homes, Aleppo and Damascus. The idea of the exhibition was born in Ukraine, during a media training organized by the EEAS which Sanadiki participated in.

During the opening of the exhibition on 4 October, the photographer said: "While visiting Ukraine and talking to the Ukrainian journalists, I felt inspired by seeing how the Ukrainian people cope with the war". "It reminded me of my people, of Syrians. Of our suffering and pain".

Sanadiki paired the photos he took in Syria with the frames from Ukraine in ten powerful stories, from personal reaction to destruction, portraying the inside of bombed houses, hands going through the rubble in the search of faded memories and pieces of past lives. He also depicts how life continues in both nations, with everyday tales of families, friends and passers-by who continue to live in Syria and Ukraine.

"These photos represent two distant, yet intertwined experiences of war, suffering and resilience" - said Aude Maio-Coliche, Director of Strategic Communication and Foresight at the European External Action Service at the opening. "They transcend geographical and cultural or linguistic boundaries".

Ambassador Jānis Mažeiks, the Head of EU Delegation to the Republic of Moldova said "It is very important that there are artists who document this evil, but also document the humanity, the way life goes on, how children are being born and raised, even against the background of shelled buildings".

"For me" - added the Ambassador - "it is also a reminder of being on the right side of the history. I think we can collectively take pride in the fact that the European Union and the Republic of Moldova both on the occasions of Syria and of the war in Ukraine - Russia's unprovoked aggression against Ukraine - have been on the right side of the history, not only in words, but also in deeds".

"Echoes of War" is an example of the efforts of the European Union to continue the conversation about the true cost of war. It also serves as a reminder that even in the darkest of times, the human spirit remains unbroken, ever-resilient, ever-hopeful.

The exhibition is a result of the training for journalists that took place in Poland and Ukraine for journalists coming from the outside of the European Union organized by the EEAS this summer. On Thursday and Friday the media professionals are visiting Chişinău to join training organized by the EEAS for media representatives from the Western Balkans, Middle East, Africa, South America and Asia to discuss the challenges of disinformation and information manipulation faced by the media today.

The exhibition will stay on display at the National Museum of History of Moldova until 31 October.