#Exhibit of the Month

The music is recorded on a cylinder with pins. The interior is divided into three compartments: the first contains the crank and the mechanism that operates the cylinder with pins, the second - the cylinder with pins and vibrating lamellae, and the third - two levers for starting and stopping the melody. The cylinder holds seven melodies by W.A. Mozart, which are played through the vibration of steel teeth arranged in a comb, whose tips are adjacent to the cylinder. The lid of the box features floral marquetry on its outer surface. This cultural asset is classified under the "Tezaur" category.

The Story of Musical Boxes

Musical boxes originated in Switzerland at the end of the 18th century. In 1796, watchmaker Antoine Favre-Salomon invented a pocket watch with an incorporated musical mechanism, using the principle of tuned metal lamellae. The invention quickly spread, soon leading to the creation of musical boxes independent of watches.

Initially invented and built for the salon entertainment of the aristocracy, musical boxes quickly evolved, capturing the market and public interest with these entertainment machines. The musical box industry was predominantly centered in Switzerland. Geneva remains the cradle of the musical box, even though the art of crafting these musical wonders spread to other regions of Switzerland - such as Jura, Auberson, and Sainte Croix - and later to other countries, including France, Germany, and Czechoslovakia. Some of the most notable manufacturers of musical boxes include: Mermod Frères, Paillard, Reuge, Thorens, Cuendet, Junod, Nicole Frères, Ducommun-Girod, Brémond, and L'Epee.

The musical box operated on a relatively simple principle: a cylinder with pins (cylindrical pins) would, through rotation, actuate a metal "comb" tuned to specific musical notes, both being concealed from view in one of the box's compartments. By turning the cylinder - with the help of a spring mechanism (similar to that of watches) - the pins would strike the steel "teeth" of the comb, causing them to vibrate and produce different musical notes. A musical box could have a limited number of melodies "programmed" onto the cylinder - from 4 to 12.

Over time, the cylinders were replaced with interchangeable metal discs. Based on this operating principle, large musical boxes emerged in cafés and taverns, which could be activated by inserting a coin, allowing users to select their preferred disc.

Besides the ingenious mechanism, musical boxes also stood out for the artistry of their exterior decorations, featuring materials such as precious woods, mother-of-pearl, ivory, and metal.

The decline of musical boxes began with the invention of the phonograph (1877) and the gramophone (1887). Production continued for a while, but by the early 20th century, most renowned companies had abandoned the business and started manufacturing other mechanical musical instruments.

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Events Archive

Opening of the Exhibition “Show Me Your Pain” Vol. III

October 21, 2024

On October 21, 2024, in the context of the European Day against pain, the National History Museum of Moldova hosted the opening of the exhibition "Show Me Your Pain," the result of a unique performance conducted during a scientific seminar in Salzburg, Austria, earlier this year. The project randomly paired eight volunteers with eight artists, each volunteer completing a detailed questionnaire that included demographic data, pain intensity scores, and comparisons of pain with basic sensory experiences.

The ceremony was held in English, being opened by Iana Burmistr, president of the Society for the study and combat of pain, presenting the other artists involved in the project.

In private sessions, the artists met with the volunteers to discuss anything except pain, with the pain descriptors extracted exclusively from the completed questionnaires. The exhibition brought together the resulting paintings, offering a visual interpretation of pain through the sensory experiences described by the volunteers.

Visitors were invited to experience these pains through a collection of unique artworks, each reflecting the artist's interpretation of the volunteer's pain. This included opportunities to touch and taste pain, inviting the audience to connect emotionally and sensorially with the displayed works. The original paintings, held by the artists, were accompanied by digital copies that were nearly identical in size to the originals, providing a rare opportunity to contemplate the complexity of human pain.

This event was carried out by the Moldovan Society for the Study and Combat of Pain in partnership with Art Forum Salzburg, the WHO and the US Government, as part of a wider pain awareness campaign aimed at encouraging open discussions about pain experiences, promoting thus empathy and a better understanding of pain management.

The exhibition "Show Me Your Pain" explored the interaction between pain and color perception, highlighting how sensory experiences influence pain perception. This initiative underscored the importance of effective communication in pain management and the relevance of innovative approaches to understanding this complex issue.

The "Show Me Your Pain" exhibition can be visited until November 8, 2024.