Lithuanian Carpets Capture Attention

Kovas carpet featuring the tulip motif in blues, reds, greens, and yellows.

In the small town of Lentvaris, Lithuania, some 12 miles outside Vilnius, is a factory that weaves beautiful carpets. The factory's name is, appropriately, Kilimai.

The first loom was installed in 1957 in an ancient castle (Tiskeviciaus Rumai). Since then, the loom and rug weaving have been moved to other buildings constructed nearby; while, the administrative offices remain in the castle. The company was privatized in 1992 and employs over 200 employees.

Even though the loom is over 40 years old, the experience and dedication of the employees produce carpets and runners of high quality, various designs, and many sizes. The carpets are made of wool or wool blends, with cotton and linen yarn backings. The large quantity of natural turf controls electric static and has good hygiene properties.

The carpets have been, since inception, designed by Lithuanian artists. You will find Lithuanian designs as well as modern and classical patterns. There has been a total of nearly 1200 designs created since 1957. Typically 15 to 20 new designs are created annually with varying color schemes.

Some of the current artists are StaseCerneviene who created "Visita", "Lasas" (a round rug), and "Auste"; Olga Ochmanienė ·ho created "Pajuris", "Karusele" (an eight-sided rug), and "Kovas"; and Rima Viliuniene who created "Galaktika" and "Jubiliejinis". "Jubiliejinis" won the prize for being one of the best Lithuanian products this year at the Lithuanian Products Exhibit.

Kilimai carpets and runners can be found gracing the floors of the Presidential Palace, the Minister's offices, the embassies, banks, hotels, restaurants, and business offices. They are truly very lovely and complement their surroundings.

Products from Kilimai are sold to Latvia, Estonia, Russia, the Ukraine, France, England, Hungary, Sweden, and even the United States. A company in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, bought a quantity of them. Last year, Kilimai manufactured and sold 67,500 square meters of carpet to Lithuanians.

By the way, Lithuanian carpets are woven only in Lentvaris. Further expansion is somewhat limited at Lentvaris by the old loom. It is the company's hope to acquire a new loom to increase their productivity, and expand the size and design capabilities.

Kilimai has stiff competition from rugs made and imported from Belgium, Estonia, Poland, France, and Russia. Seventy-three percent of the imports come from Belgium. Exports to Russia are hampered by a high import duty: making the Lithuanian carpets too expensive for the Russians. According to Kilimai, there is no import duty placed on foreign rugs in Lithuania at this time.

Kilimai carpets are available at the factory in Lentvaris at Klevu Aleja 46 and their store in Vilnius at V. Kudirkos gatve 3. They are also available in many furniture and department stores in Lithuania. The trip to the factory in Lentvaris not only presents a warehouse of beautiful and intricate carpetry, but also a stately castle surrounded by lakes and forests.