#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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Research Academic Reports

From the Museum's 2019 Agenda (Science Component)

In 2019 the museum’s researchers will continue to work on individual research topics within the institutional project The role of museum heritage in the development of contemporary society.

According to Order no.1857 of 17.12.2018 of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Research of the Republic of Moldova, the project The role of museum heritage in the development of contemporary society was extended for the year 2019 (funding for 2019 has been approved)

In 2019, the museum's researchers will continue to research and systematize heritage museum collections: the collection of documents and photographs, post-war poster collection, postcard collection, archaeological collections (Paleolithic - Early Middle Ages), numismatics collections, biographical collections of some outstanding personalities (the Bessarabian nobility) and their presentation to the scientific community and the public at different scientific events and temporary exhibitions.

The researchers will participate with papers, reports and theses at symposiums, conferences, seminars organized in the republic and abroad. Three scientific events are scheduled:

Heraldic Symposium, 13^th edition;

Annual scientific conference of the museum History. Archaeology. Museology, 29^th edition;

International Symposium of Numismatics, 19^th edition, October 2019

Two issues of the museum’s journal Tyragetia will be structured and edited: no.1 Archaeology. Ancient History; no.2 History. Museology, 2018. The following monographs will be published:

E. Sava, I. Manzura, S. Agulnikov, Tumuli din stepa Bugeacului Cercetări arheologice în anii 1984-1987. (Barrows from the steppe of Bugeac. Archaeological research in 1984-1987)

S. Ţerna, M. Vasilache-Curoşu, Figurine antropomorfe din etapa Cucuteni A din interfluviul pruto-nistrean (în baza colecţiilor Muzeului Naţional de Istorie a Moldovei). (Anthropomorphic figurines from the Cucuteni A stage in the interfluves of Prut and Nistru (based on collections of the National Museum of History of Moldova).

All scientific and cultural events will have additional promotional materials.

The results of the research will be valorized through museum exhibitions, primarily by organization of temporary exhibitions devoted to important events in the history of the republic, and by creation of new exhibitions of museum collections. Researchers will develop the scientific concept and thematic structure for the following temporary exhibitions:

ArheOS. Când antropologii şi arheologii fac oasele să vorbească. (ArheOS. When anthropologists and archaeologists make bones talk)

Afişul muzical în colecţia Muzeului Naţional de Istorie a Moldovei. (Musical poster in the collection of the National Museum of History of Moldova)

Situl arheologic Costeşti. 65 de ani de cercetări arheologice. (The archaeological site of Costeşti. 65 years of archaeological research)

Figuri antropomorfe cucuteniene. (Cucuteni antropomorthic figures)

Interesting pieces, materials and documents will be collected and purchased for the purpose of developing the museum heritage and organization of future exhibitions. The process of digitalization of museum heritage will continue. Files of analytical inventory will be drawn up for each cultural asset from the museum collections and for all the pieces that will enter the museum heritage through filed research, acquisitions and donations. The classification of mobile cultural pieces will continue.

For all major events organized by museum researchers will be issued press releases to be distributed to various channels of information.

The information about scientific events and exhibitions organized by the museum will be promoted in the printed media, on Radio and on TV.

Museum researchers will constantly update the museum's website with written information for both the general public and interested specialists.