#Exhibit of the Month

Christmas bells entered the Romanian cultural space through a long process in which archaic traditions blended with Christian belief and European influences. Long before the holiday of Christmas developed as we know it, metallic sounds played an important ritual role in old communities: they were used to drive away evil spirits, to purify spaces, and to protect people during transitional moments at the turn of the year. These beliefs have been preserved in winter customs such as caroling, the Plugușor, and masked dances, where bells and jingles were indispensable.
With the spread of Christianity, the sound of the bell also acquired a profound religious meaning, becoming an announcer of major feasts and a symbol of the Nativity. Small bells, however, were not originally used as decorations but primarily as functional or ritual objects.
The first decorated Christmas tree in the Romanian lands was the one at the palace of Prince Carol I of Hohenzollern, following his arrival in the Romanian Principalities in 1866. From that moment the tradition took root, and on Christmas Eve princes and princesses invited to the palace would take part in decorating the tree. Among the ornaments used were small metal bells, symbolizing joy, the good news, and divine protection for the home.
In the twentieth century, Christmas bells spread across all Romanian provinces and became a visual emblem of the holiday, appearing in both decorations and carols. Even during periods when religious expression was curtailed, bells remained in people's homes as signs of joy and the continuity of tradition. Today they retain this dual meaning: the echo of ancient beliefs and, at the same time, the announcement of the Birth of Christ - a symbol of hope, light, and the link between past and present.
These tinkling pieces are part of a generous heritage collection at the National Museum of History of Moldova (NMHM), which includes more than 200 cultural items. A substantial contribution to the museum's collection of decorative bells was made by Dorina Raischi, a teacher at School No. 94 in Chișinău, who donated 174 bells, of which around 30 are winter-themed. Made of ceramic, porcelain, glass, and metal, they were brought from different parts of the world and together offer a succinct picture of the global culture of bells. They add a festive note to the home and even to a gift, and it is hard to imagine Christmas without their cheerful tinkling.

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Events Archive

Opening of the exhibition Romanian Jewelry Week - Chisinau 2023

18-31 August 2023

On August 18, 2023, the National Museum of History of Moldova hosted the opening of Romanian Jewelry Week, a special edition of the event that marked an important stage in the collaboration between Romania and the Republic of Moldova in the field of contemporary jewelry. This innovative initiative, organized by Assamblage in partnership with NMHM, was made possible thanks to the support of the Romanian Cultural Institute through the Cantemir Program, a program to support cultural projects of international impact.

At the opening of the event, prominent representatives of the cultural and diplomatic community spoke, Eugen Sava, General Director of NMHM, Valentina Buzămurgă, founding member of Assamblage, Cristian-Leon Țurcanu, Ambassador of Romania to the Republic of Moldova, Monica Babuc, Director of the Romanian Cultural Institute at Chisinau and David Sandu, curator of the exhibition.

The National Museum of History of Moldova will host for two weeks an impressive and captivating exhibition in which more than 50 renowned artists and designers from Romania and around the world have brought together exceptional works of jewelry art. This exhibition includes not only the presentation of jewelry, but also special activities such as openings, guided tours, conferences and workshops, all aimed at the general public.

Among the exhibiting artists and designers were international personalities in the field of jewelry, coming from various countries such as Romania, Republic of Moldova, Italy, USA, France, Portugal, Germany, Ukraine and South Korea. Also, two capsule exhibitions organized by Slovenian Jewelry Week and Legnica Silver Festival in Poland added value to the event, offering a wider perspective on contemporary jewelry creation.

The event was possible thanks to the joint effort of the organizers, Assamblage and the National History Museum of Moldova, and financial support from the Romanian Cultural Institute through the Cantemir Program.

Special thanks to the media partners for their support in promoting the event: Radio Guerilla, Aici a Stat, Curatorialist, Curatorial.ro, Dreamingof.net, Designist.ro, ELLE, Empower Artists, Feeder.ro, Festivalier, Igloo, IQAds, Lost in Jewelry Magazine, Femeia, Modernism.ro, Revista Atelierul, Revista Golan, The PR Station, The Institute, Zeppelin, Zile și Nopți, Călătorii cu Gust și TVR Moldova.

#Exhibit of the Month

Decorative Bells

Opening of the exhibition Romanian Jewelry Week - Chisinau 2023

18-31 August 2023

#Exhibit of the Month