“Erotinė lietuvių tekstilės ornamento semantika: vietiniai ir tarpkultūriniai kontekstai” (V. Tumėnas)

At Ragainė, we’ve noticed that visitors are especially intrigued by the meanings and mysteries of Baltic symbols — yet only a few Lithuanian books on this topic exist, and they’ve long been unavailable. That’s why we’re drawing your attention to this newly published book from the Lithuanian Institute of History — don’t miss it!

The print run is limited to just 200 copies!

Look at this beautiful shade of green, adorned with the so-called “pickle pattern” (also known as the oak leaf motif) — now cherished at Ragainė! The choice of this motif for the cover seems intentional: it’s one of the most popular patterns in traditional Lithuanian weaving and is strongly associated with mythic masculinity, especially the sphere of Perkūnas, the thunder god.

Though the book’s title might sound eroticized, its scope is far broader. This is the long-awaited, exceptional work by Dr. Vytautas Tumėnas on Baltic ornamental symbols as a whole. And yes — it’s also visually stunning!

“This book explores the cosmogonic aspects of eroticism, sexuality, and binary opposition within the Baltic mytho-poetic tradition, especially as reflected in Lithuanian ornamentation and its symbolism.
It investigates the tradition of Lithuanian/Baltic ornamental art — particularly traditional textile sashes and patterned fabrics — and examines its transmission and creative reinterpretation in modern times: the development of national symbols and style, the nurturing of alternative ecological worldviews, and the application of ornament in dematerialized, experimental, or digital art, as well as in aesthetic social communication,”
— writes Dr. Vytautas Tumėnas.

This is a rigorous scholarly work, richly illustrated with symbols and photographs.