Exposition

Today the old blacksmith shop of another famous blacksmith Fr. Grimm is the location of a permanent exhibition of blacksmith items. The exhibition was opened in 1992. 
The ground floor mainly contains the exhibits of G. Katzke's blacksmith shop with the original signboard, the stand with the wooden blacksmith forms for letters and numbers made by G. Katzke himself and the blacksmith's seal. Here it should be noted that the interior of G. Katzke blacksmith shop has been restored as authentically as possible.

Photograph by D. Čižaitė Photograph by D. Čižaitė

In the exhibition visitors can see the gas lanterns, farming equipment and the door hinges of the blacksmith shop.

G. Katzke's smith interior re-created in the museum. Photograph by D. Čižaitė G. Katzke's smith interior re-created in the museum. Photograph by D. Čižaitė

On the first floor of the exhibition are exhibited crosses from the cemeteries in the Klaipėda region, as well as fences, gates, crosses in the form of the sun of the Greater Lithuania, architectural elements of houses of the old town of Klaipėda, fishery equipment and household articles. This exhibition has the traditional symbols of the two cultures of Greater Lithuania and Lithuania Minor. The crosses of Lithuania Minor are decorated with plant ornamentation and the crosses of Greater Lithuania, especially the crosses coming from Žemaitija, are decorated with the sun, the moon, stars, grass-snakes, and other pagan symbols. The location of the exhibits in the exhibition hall enables visitors to easily see the differences between the two cultures.
          The exhibition on the first floor has 7 exhibits from the Konigsberg (Kaliningrad) Cathedral including fragments of doors, forged oak leaves and a crawfish and branches of a thuja tree. 

Grating with crawfish design Grating with crawfish design

Metal crosses in the Klaipėda region were widely spread in the 18th century. The crosses of this region have no crucifix. Instead there is a small porcelain plaque with a poetic phrase or the name of the deceased and the date. The ornamentation in Lithuania Minor consisted of winding spirals decorated with flowers and leaves.All the exhibits of the Blacksmith Museum and the crosses in the yard dating back to the end of 19th and beginning of the 20th century.
         An artistic exhibition of crosses and fences from Klaipėda cemeteries from the turn of the 20th century have found their place in the yard of the Blacksmith Museum.