German porcelain is highly prized among antique collectors for its exceptional material quality, originality, and the meticulous craftsmanship of its decorative design. The museum's collection preserves five figurines from one of the oldest porcelain manufactories in the Thuringia region of Germany - the statuary group known as *"The Musicians"*, crafted at the Volkstedt manufactory. These pieces entered the museum's holdings in 1991, acquired from a resident of Chișinău. With undeniable historical and artistic value, they bear the distinct imprint of the Rococo style. The Volkstedt manufactory has a long-standing tradition in producing figurines, including those depicting musicians. In 1760, Georg Heinrich Macheleid - inventor of hard-paste porcelain in Thuringia - founded a production workshop in Zitzendorf, which was relocated to Volkstedt in 1762. Macheleid led the manufactory until 1764. Over time, the factory changed ownership and management multiple times. Under the direction of Christian Nonne, it flourished between 1767 and 1797, a period marked by significant artistic development. Volkstedt began creating figurines that would later gain international recognition. It was during this flourishing period that the museum's porcelain statuettes, titled *"The Musicians"*, were produced. They depict five “putti”: four playing musical instruments (flute, mandolin, horn, and pipe), while the fifth conducts. Each figurine is entirely handcrafted - from modeling to painting - and delicately adorned with pastel tones and gilded details, capturing the playful movement and refined artistry of each musician. The base is made of mass-colored porcelain in a rare grey-green hue. The contrast between green, white, and gold accents lends the ensemble an unusually delicate appearance. These ornamental features are characteristic of the Rococo style, which emerged in France and is closely associated with the reign of King Louis XV. The mark applied to the figurines consists of two crossed forks, clearly rendered in underglaze blue, with slightly blurred paint - a detail that helps date their production. Because the crossed forks often resembled the crossed swords of the Meissen trademark, the Volkstedt manufactory was compelled to change its mark starting in 1787. Initially represented by a single fork, the mark briefly returned to two forks before being replaced in 1800 by the graphic symbol "R", referencing the town of Rudolstadt. Therefore, the brief period during which the two-fork mark was reinstated - and during which the museum's figurines were likely produced - is estimated to be between 1787 and 1800.
The statuettes range in height from 10 to 18 cm and are preserved in relatively good condition.
These late 18th-century German porcelain pieces, now on display, are exceptionally rare. They stand as true works of art by German craftsmen and serve as important historical testimonies to the evolution of porcelain manufacturing in Germany.
• Ilie Borziac, Nicolae Chetraru, Bone Objects with Traces of Activity Characteristic for Mousterian Culture between Prut and Dniester • Serghei Fidelschi, Trade Development of the Settled Population of the Lower Dniester in the 7th-3rd Century B.C. • Alexandru Levinschi, Serghei Covalenco, Sergiu Bodean, New Getian Vestiges in the Zone of the Moldavian Codri • Igor Cetvericov, Natalia Mateevici, Epigraphic Pieces from the Barbarian Settlement by the River of Crasnaia in the Area of Lower Dniester · Vlad Vornic, Glass Vessels Discovered in the Archaeological Centre of Budești • Gheorghe Postică, Observations concerning the topography and the structure of the early medieval settlements from Prut-Dniester space • Vlad D. Ghimpu, Les Roumains dans la région du Dniestr et Danube en VIII-XII siècles • Ecaterina Abâzova, Svetlana Reabțeva, Some New Examples of Medieval Non-Ferrous Artifacts in the Collections of the National Museum of History of Moldova • Ion Eremia, International Juridical Status of Moldova to the end of the 14th Century • Ion Chirtoagă, Foreign Commerce in the East of the Carpathian Mountains in 14th -early 15th Century • Angela Zubco, Foreign Pressure and Interferences to the Foundation of the Metropolitanate of Moldova • Andrei Eșanu, Valentina Eșanu, From Weapons to a Compromise in the Home Policy of Stephen the Great: Forming of the First Gospodar's Council (1457) • Tamara Nesterov, Reliques du canon médiéval de proportion dans l'architecture ecclésiastique en pierre de Bessarabie • Eduard Baidaus, Victor Damian, The zaporozhian cossacks and the "moldavian" policy of poland (The end of 16th - beginning of the 17th centuries) • Lilia Zabolotnaia, Image of Woman from Moldova Reflected in Internal Documents and Formers' Descriptions (the l6th-17th Centuries) • Nicolae Răileanu, Moldavian-Turkish Relations and the Juridical Status of the Romanian Principalities • Violeta Tipa, Medieval Moldavian Gala Dress: Between Occidental and Oriental Influences • Andrei Emilciuc, Port Odesa in the tsarist policy of consolidation of Russia's positions in the black sea basin • Valentin Tomuleț, Maria Maftei, L'institution de la barrière d'Ismail (1812-1818) • Valentin Tomuleț, Les sources de profit et le niveau de richesse de la bourgeoisie commerciale de bessarabie (les années 1831-1868) • Marian Petcu, The Origins of News Items in the Romanian Press • Aliona Gheorghiță, The Numerical Evolution of the Bulgarian Population in Bessarabia During the 19th Century • Valentin Tomuleț, Tatiana Chicaroș, Considérations générates sur l'évolutoin de I'enseignement secondaire pour les jeunes filles en Bessarabie dans la deuxième partie du XIX siècle - le debut du XX siècle • Maria Danilov, Romanian Books from the Library of the Harjauca Cloister (19th-early 20th Centuries) • Keziban Acar, Images of the turkes in russian patriotic culture during the russo-turkish war of 1877-1878 • Elena Ploșnița, About the "Monumental" Policy of the Russian Tsarism and the "Monumental" Heroes in Bessarabia (1812-1918) • Anatol Povestca, La vérité historique sur la question de Bessarabie • Lidia Pădureac, Impact of Home Policy on Foreign Policy: The Romanian-Soviet Relations in 1917-1934 • Artur Cavalini, Corneliu Zelea Codreanu and the Italian neo-fascism • Elena Postică, Certaines considérations sur l'histoire et la signification des monuments de la gloire militaire dans la République de Moldova II. Personality, politologie et histoire locale
• Dorin Teodorescu, Antim Ivereanul, the Bishop of Ramnic in 1705-1708 • Dinu Poștarencu, The Family of Stroescu from Bessarabia • Vasile Dobrescu, "Astra", Vasile Stroescu and the Credit Cooperative movement from Transylvania. Projection and Accomplishments • Maxim Melinti, Bishop Nicodim (Krotkov) - worthy attendant of Besarabia • Silvia Şaranuța, Albina Osterman (1856-1936) • Ludmila Năstase, Les trois Maries de la famille Sciusev • Vasile Malanețchi, Ten Letters Written by Leon Boga to Father Alexandra Bardieru • Silviu Andrieș-Tabac, Les Armes et les Drapeaux des villages de Bubuieci et Colonița • Ion Rotaru, Some Considerations Concerned the Origin of the HarbovatVillage Name • Nicolae Bulat, "Încercari" - the Magazine of Soroca Pupils of Lyceums (1936-1939) • Nicolae Demcenco, Nos coeurs en granit • Essam Abou Salem, A New Way of Adjustment of the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict • Aurelia Popușoi, The Correlation between Political Institutions and Political • Constantin Solomon, Parliamentary Election 2005 in Moldova • Victoria Perciun, Elections and Their Role in the Social Development
III. Religion, museografie et etnographie
• Natalia Chișcă, From Theology to Iconography · Alina Felea, Testaments as a Source of Study of Attitudes to the Death • Emanuil Brihuneț, Tombstones of 18th - Early 19th Century in the Lower Dniester Region • Svetlana Lupașco, La découverte de l'original dans l'iconographie. XVII-XIX siècles • Victor Filatov, Some Considerations Concerned the Identification of a Chain Mail • Ludmila Istomina, From the History of Construction of the Archangel Michael Cathedral Church from Cahul • Irina Goncearova, Medals with the Images of the Popes from the Collections of the National Museum of History of Moldova • Eugenia Borodac, Tamara Stamatov, Examples of the Caucasian Cold Steel from the Collection of the National Museum of History of Moldova • Ana Grițco, La collecton de cartes posrales du parrimoine du Musée National d'Histoire de Moldova) • Liubov Malahov, The Gospel from the Kievo-Pecherskaya Lavra (1890) - a Rare Book from the Collections of the National Museum of History of Moldova • Silvia Şaranuța, Ornements populaires moldaves du patrimoine du Musée National d'Ethnographie et d'Histoire Naturelle • Varvara Buzilă, The ritual of wine "honoring"
IV. Comptes - rendus, chronique museale, ommages
• Constantin Stere, Un caz de conștiință, Editura Viața Românească, București, 1921, 86 p., [Dragoș Toma, O carte rară din colecția Muzeului Național de Arlieologie și Istorie] • Presa din Basarabia. Analize, contexte, valori (2854-2004), Cartdidact, Chișinău, 2005, 144 p. [Constantin Drachenberg, "Un valoros studiu științific"] • Cartea Memoriei. Catalog al victimelor totalitarismului comunist, vol. I-IV, Ştiința, Chișinău (vol. I,1999,464+XIV p.; vol.II, 2001, 464 p.; vol. III. 2003, 424 p.; vol.IV, 2005, 438 p.) [dr. hab. prof. univ. Anatol Petrencu, "Un important studiu privind trecutul totalitar"] • Analecta Catholica. Episcopia Romano-Catolică de Chișinău, I, Chișinău, 2005, 300 p. [Aurelia Cornețchi] • Silvia Grossu, Written Romanian Press in the Past, at Present and in Perspective. The National Symposium of Journalism, 2005 · Ana Grițco, "Le cygne de Bessarabie" est revenue à la maison · Valeriu Nazar, In the Universe of the Bessarabian Press • Ecaterina Bondarenco, L'exposition "Le visage visible et invisible de l'objet du patrimoine" · Aurelia Cornețchi, Exhibition "Destinies in the Light of Arts" • Natalia Chișcă, Cultural-Scientific Activities of the National Museum of History of Moldova in 2005 · Nicolae Chetraru: at the origines of the Bessarabian Archaeology • Alexandra Primac: a Hardened Destiny.
German porcelain is highly prized among antique collectors for its exceptional material quality, originality, and the meticulous craftsmanship of its decorative design...
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.
31 August 1989 St., 121 A, MD 2012, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova
