Decorative paper-cutting has been known in Lithuania since the 16th c. This includes the old seals, presumably cut by clerks of public institutions, manors and monasteries. In the 19th century decorative paper-cutting entered Lithuanian households and became a common choice of decoration.
People used to make curtains: rectangular, hanging at the top of the window, triangular with saw-toothed ends and sometimes imitating townish long tied curtains — “peacock tails”. There were also paper coverlets, decorations for shelves or sacred paintings, or picture frames, also decorated with colourful flowers. Decorative paper-cutting was also used for coffin decoration. More every-day items included lamp shades, flower-pot coasters or decorations for clock, medicine and other shelves. People used to cut everything they need — coasters for cakes or curtains to decorate the upper edges of the bread oven for holidays.
