Vilija Ratautiene

Vilija Ratautiene - certified craftswoman of category A of National Heritage products, folk artist.

Products: authentic woven bands, bracelets, tabs for books.

Folk artist Vilija Ratautiene is a traditional artisan of certified national heritage products, nurturer of the old craft of weaving. She is one of the few in Lithuania who weaves bands in the ancient way and presents them at exhibitions, trainings, and various festivals. In 2009, the woven bands were certified as a national heritage product.

Vilia's bands, a master of traditional crafts, are special, because she spends a lot of time both weaving them and being interested in symbolism and meanings. The woven bands of the folk artist are painted in various colors and decorated with old symbols: "rhombus", "crosses", "snakes", "trees". Each symbol has its own meaning: the snake is associated with happiness and well-being, vital energy, eternal love; the tree symbolized the inexhaustible life forces of the earth; cross - the power of spiritual protection, good wishes and protection; rhombus - female beginning, fertility. All signs woven into the bands symbolize things that bring good: fertility, vitality, protection, protection, good wishes. Vilija Ratautiene, a master of woven bands, claims that tying with a tape is a symbolic creation of a circle of protection, protection from bad influences. In ancient times, woven band accompanied a person throughout his life, from baptism to his last journey.

Vilija Ratautiene is happy to woven souvenir bands, which can be used as book tabs, key chains, bracelets. Woven bands are a great accessory instead of a belt for jeans, a dress, a shirt. They are also worn as a necktie.