
Although wood has been used for fuel, house building and making various tools since the old days, the beginning of timber and joinery in Lithuania date back to the 14th c. cabin business. This refers to the first timber companies, which produced and sold various wood items. The name for the business originated from the temporary cabins, built in forests for forest workers.
Later joiners became an independent group of craftsmen. They engaged in the fine crafts and interiors — ceilings, floors, windows, as well as exterior decorations, such as running trims, shutters, etc. Usually most of their orders used to come in winter. Just like other craftsmen, joiners made their own tools. Metal parts used to be ordered from a local blacksmith or bought in a shop.
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Building decorations included flat openwork, sometimes — relief ornaments. They used to highlight the most important parts of the house, softening transitions from one type of material to another. The most ornate part of a roof was the cove, decorated with running trims, weathercocks and window frames. Window frames, shutters, doors and porches very especially decorative. Joiners also produced furniture, which was rather simple at first. Later, increasing complexity of furniture resulted in a separate field of furniture making.
Historical resources refer to joiners and their products since the old days, yet the first written information on organised joinery dates back only to the 16th c., when Lithuanian craftsmen started joining into guilds. 1562 marked the foundation of the joint guild of saddlers, gimp makers and joiners. In 1578 joiners left the guild and established their own independent guild next year.