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

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