From January 23, 2026
THEMATIC EXHIBITION AT SUȚU PALACE
“Modern Romanian Ceramics from the Collection of the Dr. Nicolae Minovici Museum”
The Bucharest Municipality Museum invites the public to the opening of the exhibition Modern Romanian Ceramics from the Collection of the Dr. Nicolae Minovici Museum, which will take place on Friday, January 23, at 5:00 PM, at Suțu Palace. Admission to the opening is free.
The exhibition brings together a representative selection of ceramic works produced in the first decades of the 20th century in four important Romanian pottery workshops: the Royal Crown Domains, Troița, the Gheorghe Niculescu Mogoș workshop, and the Frații Tompa factory in Turda. Jugs, plates, chargers, candlesticks, and flasks from the collection of Dr. Nicolae Minovici illustrate the morphological and decorative diversity of Romanian ceramics during a period of transition and aesthetic redefinition.
Ethnographic ceramics directly reflect the history and identity of communities, serving as essential witnesses to everyday life, aesthetic preferences, and past customs. Produced in both rural and urban environments, ceramics long occupied a central place in the Romanian domestic sphere, being “used alike at the tables of both the rich and the poor.” Laden with symbolic meanings, these objects attracted the interest of collectors, among whom Dr. Nicolae Minovici (1868–1941) stands out as a consistent promoter and exhibitor of this category of artifacts.
His collection comprises approximately 1,800 ceramic objects of various sizes, originating from rural and urban workshops in Muntenia, Oltenia, Banat, and Transylvania. Although it was not assembled according to strict ethnographic criteria, but rather based on the aesthetic value of the objects, the collection reflects the collector’s preference for harmonious forms, quality of execution, and refined decoration, with most pieces originating from urban workshops.
The exhibition traces the evolution of Romanian ceramics in the context of the emergence of a modern national style, shaped by the dialogue between folk tradition, Art Nouveau (Art 1900) influences, and the innovations proposed by artists and craftsmen. The workshops adapted traditional motifs, experimented with new decorative formulas, and responded to the tastes of an urban clientele engaged in rediscovering folk art.
Visitors are invited to discover not only the beauty of modern Romanian ceramics, but also the history of the production centers and the craftsmen who contributed to the affirmation of Romanian artistic identity at the beginning of the 20th century.
The exhibition will be on view at Suțu Palace (2 I.C. Brătianu Blvd.) until June 7, 2026.
Visiting hours: Wednesday–Sunday, 10:00 AM–6:00 PM (last entry at 5:30 PM).