Bosnian Craft Revival: Zanat Leads Global Design Boom

Bosnia and Herzegovina is experiencing a craft renaissance, driven by the global success of furniture brand Zanat and a resurgence of traditional artisanal skills. Orhan Nikšić, a former World Bank senior economist, and his brother Adem transformed their great-grandfather's century-old woodcarving workshop into an internationally recognized design brand. Zanat celebrated its 10-year relaunch anniversary with a tour featuring renowned designers including Michele de Lucchi, Yves Behar, and Naoto Fukasawa, who have created products for the brand. The company uses local Bosnian wood and combines traditional carving with modern design, producing pieces like the Touch dining table by Studioilse and the Meduza lamp by Sebastian Herkner. Despite a lack of government support, craft initiatives are emerging. In Sarajevo, coppersmith Sulejman Hrgić, 40, is one of the youngest remaining artisans in Baščaršija, creating custom works for clients like the US Embassy. Tatjana Kovačević-Vidović founded TAKO Studio Keramike to revive ceramics, a craft with only four traditional workshops left. The Bosna Quilt Workshop, started in 1993 by artist Lucia Lienhard-Giesinger with Bosnian women in an Austrian refugee shelter, has produced over 3,000 quilts. Zanat's factory in Konjic includes a museum dedicated to woodcarving, now recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage. Visitor numbers to Bosnia rose nearly 32% from 2023 to 2024, reflecting growing interest in its cultural heritage.