Transcript Document

DECORATIVE METAL ARTS and
JEWELRY DESIGN in LITHUANIA
Rimanto Stankevičiaus
pagrindinė mokykla,
Marijampolė, Lithuania
Blacksmithing is one of the oldest and
the most significant crafts in Lithuania.
Smith - the ancient Lithuanian god of
pagan times – was the helper of
Perkūnas (Thunder - the main god of
pagan Lithuania). Smith was related to
the fire and water, he was considered to
be the producer of miraculous weapons.
In ancient times people treated smiths
with great respect because he dealt with
five elements – fire, water, earth, air and
metal.
The main part of metal as raw material
was imported to our country from
neighboring lands. For this reason it was
expensive and used prudently in making
household tools and weapons. In the
1st century AD the Balts leaned how to
source metal from swamp ore.
The weapons of those times were axes,
knives, swords, steelyards, spears, arrows,
shields, helmets and armor.
The household tools, such as strikers and
razors, were produced for personal use.
The work tools, for instance, axes, knives,
sickles and ploughshares were also made
of metal.
Iron was used in the production of
such necessary horse riding details
as bits, stirrups, spurs or buckles.
Iron tops also
decorated
crucifixions, roof
posts, chapels,
crosses and the gates
of cemeteries and
churchyards. The
hardware, locks of
the chests and doors
and lanterns were
produced of iron.
In the center of the ornaments there is often the
element of the sun, in the lower part the decorative
moon is placed. The rays of the sun are especially
elaborate. They are often wavy and imitate different
plant; the rays may finish with the motive of a spear,
lily, clover, etc. Almost every smith of present days
have experienced the period of making such suns.
METAL WORKS HAVE VERY
CLOSE CONNECTION WITH
JEWELRY
Jewelry making started in the
Brass period (in 1600 BC) in
Lithuania. This is jewelry made
of flexible brass wire or rod;
they also produced bracelets,
necklaces, temple rings, rings
and brooches etc., of wrought
metal.
ESPECIALLY BEAUTIFUL JEWELRY
WAS MADE OF WIRE WHICH WAS
BENT AND MINTED
THE ANCIENT LITHUANIAN WOMEN
JEWELRY
WOMEN’S HEADS DECORATIONS IN THE IRON AGE
BROOCHES
Pins were the most popular
pieces of jewelry in the Balt’s
culture. This simple item was
used together with all pieces
of clothing: one could pin the
cap, use it instead of the
buttons, fasten the top
garment or join the pin with
the other piece of jewelry. A
pin, decorated with two snails
on its head, was the most
characteristic and popular
piece of jewelry among Balts.
Amber is especially popular in Lithuania.
Various necklaces, brooches, small buttons,
pendants, the figures of humans and
animals were made of amber.
Nowadays people still wear amber
jewelry. We still believe in its magic
and healing effect upon a person.
Unfortunately, Baltic jewelry of simple silver
and brass disappeared together with the
retreat of paganism in Lithuania. European
clothes decorated with embroidery pushed
out necklaces, bracelets and pins.
NOWDAYS BLACKSMITHS WORKS
THE MONUMENT FOR “LANGUAGE AND
NATION” IN OUR TOWN- MARIJAMPOLĖ
OUR CREATED JEWELRY
THANK YOU 