The old buildings of the Bank of. Lithuania in Kaunas form an. important part of the inception of. central banking in Lithuania.

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3 The old buildings of the Bank of Lithuania in Kaunas form an important part of the inception of central banking in Lithuania. As soon as one enters these buildings at the intersection of Maironis and Donelaitis streets one can feel the magnificent spirit of the old banking of Lithuania. The main entrance to the building with six-half columns and four bronze lanterns

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5 The old lift manufactured by OTIS (USA) in 1936 is still in use

6 The Bank of Lithuania started operating on 2 October 1922 in Kaunas, the-then provisional capital of Lithuania. As the Government was reluctant to transfer or sell the former building of the State Bank of Russia Kaunas Branch equipped in a modern manner of the time, arrangements for the construction of a new building were commenced. The main lobby is decorated with black marble columns and impressive cut-glass chandeliers

7 Participants of the competition for the construction of the Bank of Lithuania buildings announced by the Bank of Lithuania in 1924 included Lithuanian, German and French architects who presented a number of interesting and original designs. The winners in the competition were French architects who proposed a design for an extremely lavish and modern building. Unfortunately, it did not correspond to the conception of representativeness of the time and, therefore, the design by Mykolas Songaila, the only professor of architecture in Lithuania at that time, was approved, which contained some details of the French design. The operations hall and an authentic desk for visitor with six seats on both sides

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9 The cornerstone for the building was laid in early 1925, and already in late 1928 Prelate Jonas Maèiulis- Maironis consecrated the completed building of the Bank of Lithuania. The building of neoclassical architecture with the space of 6,000 square metres was erected in less than four years. To furnish the interior, furniture and lamps were brought from various West European cities, and part of the furniture was produced in Lithuania. A safe door to the vaults with a drawbridge manufactured by MILNERS (England) was locked with three different keys

10 A fragment of the staircase leading from the vaults to the operations hall The construction of the Bank of Lithuania buildings was marked by quality; a reliable security system manufactured in England was installed. It was one of the most beautiful, luxurious and significant buildings of the time in Lithuania. One of the decorative elements of the interior with the monogram LB The buildings consisted of an almost square main block (with a round north-eastern corner), which housed the banking operations hall, a block of garages and residential premises extending in parallel in the yard, as well as staff offices connecting them.

11 The gallery on the first floor is fenced by a railing of white marble. The glass ceiling of the operations hall is surrounded by caissons that are painted in historic and mythological motifs

12 The façade plinth was covered with natural granite, other parts of the walls with artificial granite. All the windows were made of oak, with bronze fittings, the ground floor windows were of cut crystal glass, the roof was covered with copper tin. The gable above the attic from the side of Maironis Street was decorated with a sculptural group by Kajetonas Sklërius, which depicted the allegories of Agriculture, Industry and Warfare.

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14 For the interior decoration, natural and artificial marble was used, the floor was covered with tiles and parquet, the halls and rooms had many ornate lamps and chandeliers. The painted decoration of the interior was created by Petras Kalpokas, Vladas Didþiokas and Olga Dubeneckienë-Kalpokienë. Shore of Èiaunos Lake by Justinas Vienoþinskis (1926), oil on canvas The meeting hall with an extant set of authentic furniture (meeting table, two large and twelve smaller armchairs). The ceiling decorated with motifs of Oriental ornamentation is embellished with a massive metal twentybranch chandelier

15 When the property of the Bank of An extant set of authentic built-in bookcases in the library Lithuania was nationalised in 1940, the buildings were used by the USSR State Bank Lithuania Branch. In 1970, the buildings were put on the list of architectural monuments. In 1991, they were handed over to the Bank of Lithuania established on 1 March In 2003, the buildings were announced a cultural monument.

16 Sculptural group (two peasant women, a worker, and a soldier) by Kajetonas Sklërius (around 1926). Plaster, modelling Boy with a Dove by Juozas Mikënas (1935). Plaster, moulding Lithuanian School by Petras Rimša (1921). Plaster, moulding

17 An illusory panel on the ceiling of the former avant-hall on the second floor depicting a fragment of the sky. The decorative panel above the door features the Acropolis. The hall is embellished with a forty electric-candle chandelier

18 A console mirror with a marble tabletop in the shape of one-third of the circle decorates the avanthall on the second floor A pendulum clock with weights A door to the former official reception area is decorated with plaster ornamentation On the re-establishment of Lithuania s independence the historic buildings were restored and reconstructed, the authentic interior and original colours were re-created (the prevailing colour in the Bank is blue). Across the spacious lobby one enters an impressive banking operations hall, which is surrounded by a Corinthian colonnade with galleries on the first floor. The hall occupying the largest area of the main building is divided into customer service cabins and administrative offices.

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20 In addition, there is a small exotic resting room with a little cascade fountain. The ground floor premises are linked by a corridor; on the first floor, they have external walls only here, an open gallery serves as a corridor. Currency vaults were constructed under the operations hall. The entrance to the vaults is through a massive door manufactured in England which has survived to this day and weighs more than 3 tons. The gallery on the first floor is fenced by a railing of white marble. The glass ceiling of the operations hall is framed; the frame is divided into caissons that are painted in historic and mythological motifs. The surviving authentic ceiling of the board meeting hall is decorated with motifs of Oriental ornamentation. The former office of Augustinas Voldemaras with an 8 m dome decorated with flowers and a chandelier hanging on a long chain

21 Two Pines by Antanas Þmuidzinavièius (1931), oil on canvas In the corner part of the second floor in the attic from the side of Maironis Street, an apartment for the-then Prime Minister Augustinas Voldemaras was furnished consisting of 8 rooms with an entrance hall, a library, rooms for official receptions, a separate main entrance with a lift and a staircase.

22 Homestead of an Orphan by Jonas Šileika (1927), oil on canvas Hut by Adomas Galdikas (1927), oil on canvas Alley by Jonas Mackevièius (Isle of Capri in Italy, 1924), oil on canvas The area for official receptions consists of a two-room banquet hall with a little balcony for the orchestra. On the plafond of the former avant-hall a panel was painted depicting a fragment of the sky. The office of Augustinas Voldemaras is ellipse-shaped with a dome 8 metres high decorated with caissons and rosettes.

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24 On the second floor of the buildings from the side of Donelaitis Street, the Bank of Lithuania Governor s apartment was furnished. On the ground floor of the extension to the buildings there were 6 garages, and laundries and a bathroom were in the basement. On the roof terrace surrounding the large triangular skylight of the operations room a garden was laid out. The former reception hall with an decorated plafond and a pane with a painted view of Gediminas Castle. The hall is decorated with a framed mirror and a console table. The painting Hunting Scene (author unknown, around 1930) hangs above a three-piece cabinet with a marble tabletop placed near the back wall of the hall

25 Inside the buildings of the Bank of Lithuania, many cultural valuables and antiques included in the list of cultural valuables have survived. The buildings contain 137 movable cultural valuables and 33 antiques. At present, Bank walls are adorned with 20 valuable pictures by the outstanding Lithuanian artists of the time, such as Antanas Þmuidzinavièius, Petras Kalpokas, Justinas Vienoþinskis, Jonas Mackevièius, etc. The Bank of Lithuania also has three sculptures by three Lithuanian artists Petras Rimða, Juozas Mikënas and Kajetonas Sklërius. Boats by Kajetonas Skërius (1929), watercolour on paper

26 St Nicholas Church by Kazys Šimonis (1935), watercolour on cardboard Old Woman from Palanga by Petras Kalpokas (1924), oil on canvas

27 The resting room with an exotic fountain (the former dining room of bank directors)

28 A two-piece cabinet with drawers is decorated with carved leaves of acanthus and an oval rosette with palmettes and the legs of the cabinet are stylised clawed feet of animals A cabinet with turned legs is decorated with a relief of ornamental plants and a cornice of an elaborate profile A bell-shaped flower stand

29 A furniture set including a walnut veneer table, a cabinet, two leather armchairs and a sofa decorated with stylired lion paws

30 A three-door cabinet and awriting desk with carved bas-relief eagles on the front (manufactured at the furniture factory of Kostas Petrikas) Most of the antiques in the Bank are ancient furniture; of these, 73 units have survived. Almost all the representative furniture of the Bank of Lithuania that has survived was manufactured under a special order at the furniture factory of Kostas Petrikas in Kaunas. This factory manufactured for the Bank of Lithuania writing tables, documentation boxes and chairs that have been kept in a perfect state of preservation until now. The massive furniture is adorned with abundant carvings, some of it with carved haut-relief eagles the symbols of power, the legs of the tables and boxes are adorned with the clawed animal feet characteristic of the Renaissance style. The furniture of the meeting hall, including the table and chairs, was manufactured in Klaipëda. Most of the furniture has already been restored. 34 original lamps now adorning the Bank have survived.

31 A hexagonal table (mahogany veneers) with a polished marble tabletop and six gilded armchairs with stylised front legs the head of an Egyptian goddess with wings at the top and animal feet at the bottom

32 A three-piece cabinet and an oak writing desk (Karelian birch veneers) and with inlaid bronze monograms LB on the front. The legs of the cabinet are six stylized lion feet The history of the buildings is unique in that since its construction it has served its proper function of providing premises for banks all the time. Today, the registered office of the Bank of Lithuania the central bank of the Republic of Lithuania is in the capital city Vilnius. In Kaunas, the Bank of Lithuania Kaunas Branch was established with part of the buildings devoted to commercial activities. Exhibitions and other social events are also organised in these buildings. Upon visiting this place, Lithuanian citizens and foreign guests are fascinated with the impressive architectural monument. It is a wealth which will be appreciated by the future generations as well.

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