On the occasion of
Lithuania’s Millennium and Vilnius - European Capital of Culture 2009
The Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania
proudly presents
Lithuanian National Sashes
by Antanina Didzgalviene
February 17 – March 21, 2009
Hours:
Monday to Friday
10 am to 3 pm
Free admission
Embassy of Lithuania
2622 16th Street, NW,
Washington, DC 20009
About Lithuanian National Saches
National sashe (juosta) is a traditional and ancient branch of Lithuanian folk art that lately has been reviving. Sashes are produced by twisting, twining and weaving techniques. Sashes are known in Lithuania since the 4th century.
Several score of motifs were used in sashes. Symbols of the celestial bodies predominate, such as crosses, stars, and very often a six-pointed star in a rhombus. Frequent are the motifs of fir-tree, blossom, bud, rake, and tree of life.
Saches are used as a waist girdle in the national costume, to make women's headpieces, as bookmarks, neckties, accent pieces, and also widened into table runners. At present sashes, very often with woven-in words, are used to honor people on the occasion of their birthdays, or to welcome an honorable guest.
Antanina Didzgalviene was born in Lithuania (Dzukija) in 1920. Antanina weaves Lithuanian saches since 1968. She is a member of the Lithuanian Folk Craft Union and has exhibited her work in Latvia, Poland, Russia, Germany, Hungary, Czech Republic and the United States.
Cordially,
Embassy of Lithuania
Washington DC