Comparative Analysis of Western Ukrainian and Lithuanian Folk Towels

This work was supported by the Lithuanian Research Council and the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine [grant number in Lithuania S-LU-22-5, in Ukraine M/21-2022].

A comparative analysis of traditional western Ukrainian and Lithuanian towels provides rich material for new creative inspirations, as well as diversification of individual and mass-produced interior textiles, and also visualizes historical ties between the two countries. Therefore, the objective of the article is to analyse the weaving techniques that prevail in the creation of towel decor, to determine the artistic and stylistic parameters of Ukrainian and Lithuanian towels and to establish the common and unique features of their decor. The techniques of plain and twill weaving, the latter of which could obtain simple textured patterns on the canvas, were widespread in both countries. Various weaving compositions were obtained by the pick-up techniques of weaving, the overshot, and the damask weaving technique, which was much more widespread in Lithuania than in the western part of Ukraine.