In the Palace of the Lords – the collection of phalerestics of the journalist V. Kavaliauskas

A tour of the exhibition in the photos of R. Kaminskas

D. Raimundas Kaminskas, www.voruta.lt

In Vilnius, in the Museum of the Palace of Lords, historical researcher, phaleristics expert, journalist Vilius Kavaliauskas led a tour of the exhibition “Symbols of Freedom of the Baltic States 1918-1940″. Lithuania Latvia Estonia”.

The exhibition is divided into three main parts according to the Baltic States. The first, most extensive part of the exhibition is devoted to the history of the first state awards of the Republic of Lithuania (1918–1940) and to presenting the awardees. Here we can see the main state awards of Lithuania (until 1940) – projects of the cross “For the Fatherland” (the first order of the independent state of Lithuania), the Order of the Vytia Cross and the Vytia Cross and its knights, the Order of the Grand Duke Gediminas of Lithuania, the Order of Vytautas the Great with a Gold Chain . A separate exhibition space is dedicated to other, no less significant awards, such as the Star of the Riflemen’s Union, the Medal for the Liberation of Klaipėda Region, etc. Along with the awards, documentary material related to them is also exhibited, revealing in more detail the life events of the awarded persons. The awards were given to leaders of foreign countries, ministers and other politicians, revealing the complex vicissitudes of interwar politics and diplomacy, the importance of international relations in nurturing the traditions of statehood.

The second part of the exhibition presents the Republic of Latvia 1918-1940. awards – Military Order of Lačplės, Chain of the Order of Three Stars, Order of Viesturas and other significant state awards and personalities related to them.

In the third part of the exhibition, the Republic of Estonia in 1918-1940 is exhibited. awards – the symbol of Estonia’s statehood, the Cross of Freedom, the Order and Medal of the State Coat of Arms, the Order of the White Star with a Chain, and the most important historical figures of this period honored with the aforementioned orders.

It is noteworthy that the valuable and largest collection of phaleristics in the region from 1965 on display at the exhibition. collected by Vilius Kavaliauskas. He actualized the significance of awards as symbols, accumulated valuable iconographic material – photographs, documents and other artefacts.

The phaleristics expert has studied the awards exhibited at the exhibition for many years, and regularly prepares publications and exhibitions dedicated to them in many European countries – Denmark, Finland, Czech Republic, Spain, Belgium, Poland, Ukraine, Latvia, Estonia and elsewhere. This exhibition is the largest ever presentation of the collection, not only in Lithuania, but also in other countries.

Thanks to Vilius Kavaliauskas for the excellent presentation of the exhibition.