The medieval and pre-modern collection reflects the history of Transylvania in the 30.000th-XNUMXth centuries, comprising a number of almost XNUMX pieces with extremely heterogeneous origins and functionality. There are many products of material culture that come from the research carried out under the auspices of the Cluj museum at archaeological sites such as the fortresses of Dăbâca or Moldoveneşti, the monastery and the castle of Vințu de Jos, in numerous parish churches in the region or in points of interest for the history of the city of Cluj -Napoca.
The pre-modern collection preserves artifacts related to the life and activity of the princes of Transylvania and the most important aristocratic families in the region. Weaponry pieces include a variety of melee weapons, firearms, armor and other pieces from the military arsenal of centuries past. Artifacts related to the evolution and activity of craft guilds and associations are preserved in significant numbers and are representative of a large part of present-day Transylvania. Fine and decorative art (graphics, painting, sculpture, jewelry, porcelain, etc.) and ecclesiastical (pieces of furniture, church painting, icons and other cult objects) are also well represented.
The sub-collection of archaeological textiles, most of them unearthed from noble crypts in Cluj-Napoca (the reformed church on M. Kogălniceanu street), Luna de Jos (Cluj county), Cetatea de Baltă (Alba county), Tirimia (county Mureș) and Huedin (Cluj county), is one of the most valuable in this part of Europe. The oldest pieces of furniture date from the 15th-16th centuries and are made in the Renaissance style, many of which also retain the coats of arms of the previous noble owners.
