A visit to Zanat in Sarajevo – where Bosnian craftsmanship meets modern design.

As you may have seen on our Instagram, we traveled to Bosnia this summer. It wasn't just to show Erik my home country – the trip was also a chance to experience one of the region's most exciting design companies, Zanat.

The picture was taken at the Baškuca hotel in Sarajevo where they have several of Zanat's furniture.

Zanat is a family business with over a hundred years of history, founded in 1927 in Konjic, just outside Sarajevo. The company is based on a unique hand-carving technique that was developed in the area as early as the late 19th century. Already around the turn of the century, the first furniture was exhibited at international fairs in Paris, Vienna and Brussels.

Since then, four generations of the Nikšić family have carried on the craft. Konjic furniture has become a symbol of Bosnian design, and in 2017, the traditional woodcarving technique was officially included on UNESCO's list of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

After the war in the 1990s, Zanat got a fresh start when brothers Orhan and Adem Nikšić resumed the business with a new vision – to unite traditional craftsmanship with modern design and sustainable production. Today, they collaborate with internationally recognized designers such as Monica Förster, Ilse Crawford, Gert Wingårdh and Harri Koskinen. The furniture is sold all over the world and can be found in everything from private homes to prestigious public environments.

During our visit to Sarajevo, we met two incredibly knowledgeable employees who talked about the company's history, philosophy, and work to keep the craft alive. For us at Gbg Deco, who work with furniture and design ourselves, it was incredibly inspiring to see how Zanat manages to combine cultural heritage and innovation.

For me personally, it was also special to show Erik what skill and creativity there is in Bosnia – and how the craftsmanship from my home country now has a clear place on the international design scene.

We left Sarajevo full of pride and inspiration – and with a strong sense of how important it is to cherish the craft and pass it on to future generations.

Zanat's retailers in Sweden are Nordiska Galleriet and Länna Möbler.