The Museum's collection contains a number of zithers, mainly of German origin but this instrument is the first Lithuanian instrument to enter the collection and is a very different in shape and design from the heavily lacquered German zithers. However, the Kankles has greater parallels to zithers from Finland, Latvia and Estonia. Traditionally the Kankles was used to play folk melodies and to accompany folk songs and dances but it was also possibly used in rituals. Several types of Kankles exist based on both region and use and this instrument appears to be a northwestern type. The instrument is also significant as it was highly prized by the donor when a refugee after World War Two and helps to illustrate stories of relocation from traditional homelands and eventual migration to Australia.