Etched in Wood: The Story of Zanat Furniture

“We want the carvings to be the essence of the product’s design.”
—Orhan Nikšić

The world of modern design has changed significantly since Zanat launched its first collection in 2015, according to Orhan Nikšić, CEO and co-owner of the Bosnian furniture brand.

At the time, Orhan and his brother Adem saw a growing divide between chic contemporary design and high-quality craftsmanship. Drawing on the family’s four generations of artisanal legacy, they founded Zanat with an innovative vision.

“We took a new approach to furniture design and production, emphasizing craftsmanship while showing how traditional hand-carving techniques can open up new possibilities for design,” Orhan says.

Forging new frontiers

The Nikšić family’s heirloom legacy of hand-carved furniture originates with the brothers’ great grandfather, Gano Nikšić, who learned carving techniques from pioneer woodcarvers in Konjic, a small town in Bosnia and Herzegovina

By the end of the 19th century, the works of Konjic’s master artisans were being exhibited at major international events in cities such as Budapest, Vienna, and Paris.

Over a century later, the Nikšić brothers, who still live in the small town, set out to bring this heritage to new audiences.

The two knew the heart of their family’s legacy—exquisite hand-carved furniture—wouldn’t change, but they wanted to adapt it to the tastes of their time.

Yet there was still a considerable challenge ahead; namely, all contemporary design at the time was exceedingly minimalist. Any additional design elements, such as texture, were seen as superfluous.

Despite the industry’s strict adherence to that philosophy, the Nikšić brothers forged ahead with their unique vision and launched Zanat, meaning “craft” in Bosnian, in 2015.

“The belief that machines can’t do the work of a human being is essential to our approach. That fine filigree work creates a trust between the creator, the tools, and the customer,” Orhan says.

The brothers wished to create exquisite objects that could bring beauty and grace to interior spaces. As part of their modern vision, they decided not to add folkloristic decorative elements to their products, as was traditional in the region.

“Instead, we enhanced tactility with more abstract, visually appealing elements,” Orhan says.

Accompanying their cultural aim was the hope of creating a sustainable future.

“Our products can be inherited and passed down from generation to generation. They’re beautiful, functional pieces today but can become an heirloom piece or a museum exhibit tomorrow,” Orhan says.

A North Star for contemporary design

From its inception, Zanat has attracted well-known and respected European designers, many of whom have embraced the company’s fresh take on contemporary design.

“I think they believed in the vision and mission. The carving gave them a new medium through which they could explore their creative skills,” Orhan says.

According to him, the designers who begin to work with Zanat tend to say, “We know we’re not going to make nearly as much money in royalties as we would working with a major manufacturer, but we don’t care. We see the value in this. We want to do it because it’s very interesting for us.”

Once the designers take on the work, the first step is to visit the Zanat atelier in Konjic.

“It’s very important that they understand the craftsmanship process. Once they see it, they often change their initial design concepts and get new ideas. However great they are as designers, they don’t always understand the rules and limitations of working with wood,” Orhan says.

The Nikšić brothers also teach the designers about the importance of the wood carvings.

“The carvings shouldn’t be a decoration to an already finished product. We want them to be the essence of the product’s design.” Orhan says.

He was particularly impressed with a recent collaboration with the renowned Italian architect and designer Michele De Lucchi. The latter designed the Dom plate for Zanat—a finely crafted sculpture meant to echo a star map guiding people home. Dom means “home” in Bosnian.

The hand-carved wooden textures engraved by Zanat’s master artisans beautifully reflect the light, drawing people to touch the plate’s intricate geometric designs.

“Using this traditional technique, you create something artistic and contemporary that looks quite sophisticated,” Orhan says.

The importance of tradition

In 2018, Zanat spearheaded an effort to inscribe Konjic woodcarving in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list.

To celebrate this timeless cultural distinction, Zanat opened a Woodcarving Museum that preserves and celebrates historical memories of Konjic’s woodcarving tradition.

To the brothers’ delight, it earned the Museum of the Year Award from the Forum of Slavic Cultures and was nominated for two other prestigious European museum awards.

“We were told they loved the concept behind the museum—we’re not just preserving the memory of the craft’s past; rather, we’re demonstrating its evolution, showing how it can be given a new life,” Orhan says.

As part of this mission, Zanat has trained over 50 young artisans over the last five years.

“Traditional craftsmanship will always be relevant … Some people just enjoy working with their hands, creating things, so there’s a humanistic value in this.”

Orhan says that today traditional artisanship is needed more than ever.

“We’re craving more tactility as the world is becoming increasingly virtual. When we show these products at a fair or an exhibit, there’s a subconscious reaction. Everybody is asking, ‘Can I touch this?’ It seems we’re all drawn to touching and feeling the material.”

“We don’t think about it, but when we are children, we discover the world by touching and feeling things.”