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.
Die absolute Datierung der Katakombengrabkultur im Nördlichen Schwarzmeerraum
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. III [XVIII], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
In den letzten zwei Jahrzehnten sind zahlreiche 14C-Datierungen für Komplexe der Katakombengrabkultur durchgeführt worden. Die mehr als 127 vorliegenden Daten müssten eigentlich ausreichen, um sowohl die Kultur selbst als auch ihre einzelnen Phasen als auch zumindest einige der Regionalgruppen relativ sicher absolut zu datieren. Doch statt eine Klärung zu bringen, ist eher weitere Verwirrung entstanden. Die Gründe hierfür sind vielfältig, so wurden oft Datierungen ohne archäologischen Kontext publiziert, meist wurden von den Laboren nur die Jahreszahlen in BP und BC ohne weitere Information angegeben usw. Im ersten Teil des Beitrags wird auf die häufigen Missstände beim Umgang mit 14C-Datierungen eingegangen. Danach wird trotz oft unzureichender Vorlage eine absolute Eingrenzung der frühen Katakombengrabkultur im Nördlichen Schwarzmeergebiet versucht, die derzeit mit Vorbehalt von 2800 bis 2500 v.Chr. datiert werden kann. Auf sie folgen im unteren Dneprgebiet Komplexe der Inguler Kultur, die ebenso vorsichtig in die Zeit 2500-2000 v.Chr. zu stellen ist. Als Letztes wird der vorsichtige Umgang mit 14C-Datierungen angemahnt, die vollständige Publikation der naturwissenschaftlichen und archäologischen Angaben sowie die Datierung mehrerer Grabkomplexe aus einem Kurgan, der am besten eine noch klar erkennbare Abfolge chronologisch unterschiedlicher Gräber enthält.
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...
The National Museum of History of Moldova takes place among the most significant museum institutions of the Republic of Moldova, in terms of both its collection and scientific reputation.
The National Museum of History of Moldova takes place among the most significant museum institutions of the Republic of Moldova, in terms of both its collection and scientific reputation.
The National Museum of History of Moldova takes place among the most significant museum institutions of the Republic of Moldova, in terms of both its collection and scientific reputation.
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.
31 August 1989 St., 121 A, MD 2012, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova
