WOOD-CARVED FURNITURE

One of the most famous Bosnian-Herzegovinian crafts is woodcarving. The tradition of woodcarving dates back to ancient times, and many beautiful items from this craft have been preserved from the Ottoman period. This craft reached its full affirmation during the Austro-Hungarian period, when woodcarving schools were established and the products of this craft were exported to European countries. The objects are decorated with relief carvings, and the ornamentation used includes names such as Bosnian, Arabic, deep, and geometric patterns. Carved objects were sometimes also decorated with various inscriptions, in plastic Arabic script letters, which represented a rather rare form of decoration.

Konjic was the center of woodcarving in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and this craft is still widespread in the city today. Along with the exceptionally beautiful objects of Konjić woodcarving, the Bošnjački Institute – Adil Zulfikarpašić Foundation exhibits the most representative items of woodcarving, particularly wooden furniture that was imported and used as part of the furnishings in wealthy households. Some of the techniques used in the creation and decoration of the furniture, such as inlay, arabesque, and calligraphy, were not commonly used in Bosnian-Herzegovinian woodcarving, making this type of furniture a rare and expensive rarity, as well as a supreme work of art in wood processing. Such is the case with the *sehara* (decorative boxes) from this collection, most of which were made in the East, as evidenced by the specific shapes and decoration techniques.

Among other things, it is interesting to mention a complete set of furniture that belonged to the family of Safvet-beg Bašagić (1870–1934), a renowned poet, translator, historian, and politician. The furniture dates back to the 19th century and is the work of Ottoman craftsmen. It is made in such a way that more wood is incorporated into a single item, which is a very unusual and impressive method of decoration. In addition, the furniture is adorned with relief carving, inlay, arabesque, and calligraphy.