This article examines the symbolism of birds in the decoration of chests of drawers, based on material in the collection of the Department of Ethnic Culture and Anthropology of the Lithuanian National Museum, using material on Baltic sources of religion and mythology.

The Lithuanian National Museum has probably the largest collection of chests of drawers from all ethnographic regions of Lithuania, but mainly Samogitia and Aukštaitija: 138 inventory units, including a collection of ethnographic drawings that has never been investigated.

The material in the funds of the Lithuanian National Museum, as well as the chests of drawers and drawings which have been collected since the first ethnographic expeditions in 1948, are still being added to.