Scissors Museum in Griniai: a Collection of 1,800 Objects

Scissors Museum in Griniai: the Mėliniai family's private collection revealing the surprising variety of scissors and cutting tools

Edita and Kęstutis Mėliniai opened their Scissors Museum in Griniai village in 2022. In 2025, the municipality reported more than 1,800 exhibits at the homestead: about 1,500 scissors and other cutting tools plus roughly 300 themed souvenirs and postcards. This is not a state museum with fixed daily hours - its strongest experience comes from arranging a visit and hearing the collectors' own stories.

Scissors and cutting tools of many sizes densely covering the walls and simple shelves of the Scissors Museum room

Place: Kelmė District Municipality
Region: Kelmė District
Type: private thematic museum at a family homestead, open by prior arrangement
Address: 15 Raudiškės Street, Griniai village, Kelmė District
Coordinates: 55.54786, 22.79581
Visit duration: 45-75 minutes, by prior arrangement with the owners
Best time: at an agreed time when the collectors can introduce the objects themselves

Names and variants

Griniai Scissors Museum, Mėliniai Scissors Museum

A family collection became a museum in 2022

Edita and Kęstutis Mėliniai turned their collecting interest into a thematic museum at their home in Griniai. The institution celebrated its third birthday in 2025, placing its opening in 2022. The private setting matters: this is a collection continually shaped and interpreted by its owners rather than an anonymous storehouse.

The museum is at a private property, not in a public cultural centre. The coordinate marks a representative address point; confirm the meeting and the owners' arrival directions before setting out.

More than 1,800 exhibits

In 2025, Kelmė District Municipality reported more than 1,800 exhibits. About 1,500 were scissors, shears and other cutting tools, while roughly 300 were themed souvenirs, postcards and related objects. The total is dated and may increase as the collection grows.

The exhibits do not come only from Lithuania. Official information mentions objects from India, Korea, Spain, Germany and the Americas. Differences in size, material, handle shape and mechanism make it possible to compare everyday tools with decorative or culturally specific examples.

Its value is more than a record-sized count

A large group of one type of object reveals how many functions a seemingly simple two-bladed tool can have. During an owner-led visit, ask how a tool's purpose is recognized, where an object came from and why it entered the collection.

Do not judge the museum by quantity alone. The most memorable pieces often emerge through their provenance, unusual construction or the person who donated them, which makes the live explanation more valuable than a hurried independent look.

Visit only by prior arrangement

No reliable source provided fixed daily hours or a current official admission list. One municipal account described a pre-arranged group visit and a voluntary donation, but that does not guarantee the same arrangement today.

Contact the owners before travelling and ask about an available time, group size and current payment or donation arrangements. Respect the private homestead, request permission before photographing people or displays, and allow roughly an hour for conversation.

How to look beyond decorative form

When comparing exhibits, start with blade length and thickness, points, finger loops, the pivot, springs and signs of wear. Such details support better questions about whether a tool served textiles, a craft, household work, animal care or another specialised task.

The municipality's introductions do not provide a catalogue for all 1,800 objects, so do not assign a precise date or function from appearance alone. Show an intriguing example to the collectors and ask about its provenance: the owners' accumulated stories are what distinguish this place from a merely decorative display of scissors.

Scissors Museum in Griniai: frequently asked questions

Where is the Scissors Museum?

It is at Edita and Kęstutis Mėliniai's homestead, 15 Raudiškės Street in Griniai village, Kelmė District.

Who founded the Scissors Museum in Griniai?

Collectors Edita and Kęstutis Mėliniai opened the private museum in 2022.

How many exhibits does it have?

In 2025, the municipality reported more than 1,800 objects: about 1,500 cutting tools and roughly 300 themed souvenirs and postcards.

Where did the scissors come from?

Official information mentions Lithuania, India, Korea, Spain, Germany and the Americas, though the collection's geography may be wider.

Can I visit the Griniai Scissors Museum without booking?

Do not plan an unannounced visit. It is a private museum at a homestead, so agree a time with the owners first.

How much does the visit cost?

No current official price list was found. A municipal account mentions a voluntary donation for one group, but confirm today's arrangement directly.

May I take photographs?

Because the collection is in a private home setting, ask permission before photographing the exhibits or owners.

How much time should I allow for the Scissors Museum?

Plan about 45-75 minutes for the collectors' introduction and questions.

Does the map marker identify a public museum entrance?

No. It is a representative point for the private homestead's address. Confirm the precise driveway and meeting point with the owners before travelling.