This publication includes two studies Lithuanian Gloves in Lithuania Minor: Local Culture in the European Context by R. Merkienė and Fancy-works of Klaipėda area women: Gloves by M. Pautieniūtė-Banionienė. R. Merkienė has accomplished her study thanks to the support provided by the Lithuanian Science and Studies Foundation. The work deals with a short history of glove making in the Baltic region, analysis of glove ornamentation in Klaipėda area and their links with the emotional outlook, artistic expression and technique of Lithuanians as well as the impact of other cultures.
The work presents the main data on the Klaipėda area glove knitting traditions and bases it on the XVIXXth century fiction, ethnographic material and manuscripts stored at the Ethnology Department of the Institute of the Lithuanian History. Museum exhibits had also been used. Besides, in 1994 the author worked out an ethnographic questionnaire which served as basis for compiling the comparative material about present-day and ancient glove knitting traditions in various areas of Lithuania and, especially, in Klaipėda, Šilutė and Pagėgiai regions. The results of other countries researches had also been used. The data had been systematised and reviewed in a wide historical context of the European culture, which had been an attempt to contribute to the salvation of the problem that deals with the formation of universal features as well as distinctly original features manifested in the local culture of Lithuania Minor and that is of great significance and interest to ethnology and culture research.
The studies revealed that Lietuvininkai (Lithuanians of Lithuania Minor) glove patterns replicate most ancient ornaments of ceramics and metal wear decorations found by the archaeologists in Lithuania and its seacoast area. Prehistoric, Gothic and Renaissance patterns of Western, Eastern and Central Europe had undergone a revival period in Lithuania Minor. Their novelty lies in the variety of individual and local pattern compositions. The choice of artistic means had been predetermined not only by a long lasting glove knitting tradition but also by the influence of the Baltic area ethnic culture fashion. That influence could not have been restricted by the administrative-territorial bounds as the Baltic Sea was a linking tie for the people living around it.
The study by M. Pautieniūtė-Banionienė presents an extract from her diploma work on gloves written in 1940 which had not been published or used and which includes a perfectly registered photograph collection. The collection consists of 71 gloves photographed by Andriejus Banionis in the XXth century IVth decade Klaipėda area. Although faded in the course of time they represent a very important and unique ethnographic source of such an extent that reveals ornaments of the clearly defined territory of Lithuania. No less important is the diploma work by M. Pautieniūtė-Banionienė containing the original analysis as well as the evaluation of the collected data. It is supplemented with an extract from Lithuania Minor 1908 folk art exhibition registration book. The book had been held by Vilius Gaigalaitis but currently there is no knowledge about it. The book includes the names of the participants, their residence places, types and number of the exhibits.
The present work is devoted to those, who understand both English and Lithuanian, and, especially, to the folk textile art researchers interested in the Lithuanian art and traditions and their manifestations. It is an attempt to open a new page of the Lithuanian ethnic culture.
The work is also of great practical value to folk artists and amateur knitters as it provides various pattern descriptions and to those who strive at reviving and fostering the valuables of the Lithuanian spiritual culture as they will find information about giving away gloves as gifts on such traditional rituals as weddings, funerals and other similar occasions as a token of love, respect and appreciation. We would like to extend our gratitude to all who offered their assistance in preparing this book for publication, and, especially, to the members of the editorial board, Professor Dr. Romualdas Apanavičius, Professor Dr. Leonardas Sauka, Professor Dr. Antanas Tyla for their useful advice; Professor Dr. Vacys Milius, Dr. Žilvytis Bernardas Šaknys and other workers of the Ethnology Department at the Institute of Lithuanian History, who had reviewed the present work and to all who had contributed to this publication: the translators Birutė Taujenytė and Ada Jurkonytė, the text editor Laima Kertenienė, the photographers Romualdas Mičiūnas, Rima Ropytė, Kęstutis Stočkus and Stasys Žumbys who graciously rendered their assistance in preparing the illustrations; dr. Vida Savoniakaitė for her proposals on design of the book; Valerija Kiškienė who deciphered and prepared for publication the glove patterns photographed by A. Banionis; Ramutė Žandarienė who with great patience produced computer versions of the ornaments and Algirdas Varnas for all his great work and assistance which resulted in the publication of this book.
We would also like to thank workers of the Lithuanian National Museum Birutė Kulnytė, dr. Elvyra Lazauskaitė, Danutė Aleknienė and of the M. K. Čiurlionis National Museum of Art Aušra Kargaudienė for the possibility to have availability to the museum material, to all who assisted in compiling and presenting the data, and, especially, to those who had made gloves and shared their experience and memories about fashions, family and community traditions of their youth and lent the photographs of the people who are very dear to them.
We expect our readers attention and look forward to their benevolent comments which will be useful to our future research.
Compiler