Zanat's 10 Years of Transforming Bosnian Heritage

Rye barstools by Yves Behar. Mostar stools by Naoto Fukasawa. Kala bowl by Monica Forster.

Touch cabinet by Studioilse.

Tara shelf with cabinet by Monica Forster.

Kala bowls by Monica Forster.

Sova lounge chairs by Patrick Norguet. Rye barstools by Yves Behar. Mostar stools by Naoto Fukasawa. Kala bowl by Monica Forster.

Ten years ago, an audacious vision transformed a 105-year-old Bosnian woodcarving workshop into a respected name in contemporary furniture design. Zanat’s journey from the mountain town of Konjić to international acclaim represents far more than business success—it’s a shining example of how heritage craft can evolve without losing its soul. Today, the brand is a globally recognised authority in woodcarving, with pieces featured in premier galleries and design stores across five continents, while their traditional techniques earned UNESCO recognition as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2017.

As someone who carries Bosnia in her bones—having been born there and escaped with my family after the civil war broke out—Zanat’s decade-long journey feels profoundly personal. This brand represents something extraordinary: born from the ashes of conflict, transforming centuries-old craft into a symbol of resilience and hope (I’ve written more about this connection here). For those who understand the depth of wounds that war inflicts and the incredible resilience of people who survive it, Zanat’s success transcends mere commercial achievement.

I’m not alone in feeling this connection. Erna Walsh, CEO and Founder of K5 Furniture—the company bringing Zanat to Australian shores—experienced her own emotional awakening when she first discovered the brand: “I first encountered Zanat at their inaugural exhibition in Milan, a moment that stirred in me a profound sense of pride and emotion. As someone originally from this part of world I was deeply moved by the exceptional quality of their work, the evident passion of the owners, and the remarkable international designers with whom they collaborate.” K5’s mission aligns perfectly with Zanat’s values: both companies champion design innovation, craft, and sustainability, creating products designed to last a lifetime.

This year marks a significant milestone as Zanat celebrates its 10th anniversary as an international design brand. What began as a memorable exhibition at Stockholm’s oldest auction house during Stockholm Design Week has blossomed into a phenomenon that proves authentic craftsmanship, when paired with visionary design thinking, creates objects that transcend cultural boundaries.

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Rye barstool by Yves Behar offers a contemporary twist on classical bent wood furniture. Rye’s round legs split and bend into arches supporting a solid wood seat, reminiscent of swaying grain ears, hence the name “Rye”. As this is Yves’s first venture into bent wood furniture, the innovative structural approach is a tour de force of imagination and craft.

“Making a good product requires much more than meeting functional and aesthetic criteria and doing the economic analysis. In the world flooded with similar products and overproduction, good design has to contribute to a more sustainable world that improves the quality of life.” — Orhan Nikšić, Co-founder and CEO Zanat

From Family Legacy to Global Recognition

The story behind Zanat is one of generational craft meeting contemporary vision. Brothers Orhan and Adem Nikšić, representing the fourth generation of their family’s 105-year-old woodcarving business, made a bold decision in 2015. Rather than simply maintaining tradition, they chose to revolutionise it, transforming their Konjić-based workshop into an international design powerhouse through collaborations with extraordinary designers and architects.

The significance of their hometown craft cannot be understated. Konjic’s woodcarving tradition was inscribed onto UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2017, cementing its global cultural importance. The brothers have since opened the Woodcarving Museum in 2019, which received two international awards in 2022.

Monica Förster, the Swedish design luminary who serves as Zanat’s art director, has been instrumental in shaping the brand’s aesthetic direction since its inception. Her vision has helped bridge traditional Bosnian craftsmanship with contemporary Scandinavian design sensibilities, creating pieces that feel both timeless and thoroughly modern.

Welcome Yves Béhar

This anniversary year brings exciting news with the announcement of Yves Béhar joining Zanat’s design family. The Swiss-born American designer, known for his work with Herman Miller, GE, Puma, and Prada, represents a fascinating addition to the brand’s roster. His collaboration with Zanat began through a chance encounter in San Francisco with co-founder Orhan Nikšić.

“Yves and I had a great conversation about design and craftsmanship and decided that we share a lot in common in terms of how we see design as a discipline,” explains Orhan. “There was also a shared passion for crafts.”

Béhar’s debut piece, the Rye stool, exemplifies this shared philosophy. “With Rye, I was looking to reference the way trees bifurcate as they grow a trunk into two branches,” says Béhar. “The result are legs structurally connected to each other through beautiful arcs. Nature and structure come together in a continuous motion.”

Drvo table by Naoto Fukasawa is inspired by the image of a tree’s base emerging from the ground.

Mostar stool by Naoto Fukasawa in hand-carved from a single log of wood. Its elegant leg arches mirror the famous old bridge of Mostar, symbolising unity and connectedness among the people.

Pliva by Patrick Norguet are cylindrical glass bowls nestled within hand-carved wooden cylinders, a nod to the picturesque waterfalls of the Bosnian Pliva river. The bowls serve both as sculptural decorative pieces and functional flower vases or containers.

Kala bowls by Monica Förster are hand-carved sculptural objects named after the Calla Lily flower—“Kala” in Bosnian—drawing their inspiration from the flower’s graceful form.

Tara shelf with cabinet by Monica Forster is the 10th anniversary version of Zanat’s debut shelving system, originally launched in 2015.

The Touch Cabinet (tall) is the latest addition to Zanat’s popular Touch collection, designed by Studioilse. Known for its hand-carved surfaces, it appeals to our instinctive need for tactile experiences in a digital world. The “Touch” pattern, created by Studioilse and Zanat woodcarvers in 2016, has gained global popularity and countless imitations.

Anniversary Collection Highlights

The 2025 collection showcases remarkable diversity across five completely new products. Naoto Fukasawa’s contributions include the Mostar stool, whose elegant arches mirror the famous Mostar bridge while featuring hand-carved patterns inspired by the emerald Neretva river’s reflections. His Drvo Table embodies poetic simplicity, with hand-carved details that subtly echo tree bark textures.

Patrick Norguet’s Pliva bowls present a beautiful marriage of materials—cylindrical glass vessels nestled within hand-carved wooden cylinders, reminiscent of Bosnian waterfalls. Monica Förster’s Kala bowls, inspired by the Calla Lily flower, demonstrate the sculptural possibilities of functional design.

The collection also features updates to beloved classics, including a tall version of Studioilse’s popular Touch Cabinet and a 10th anniversary edition of the iconic Tara shelving system.

Designed by Sebastian Herkner, Veo screen is an architectural object that takes its name from the Bosnian word for veil, an object that simultaneously hides and reveals.

Piano Table by Ludovica + Roberto Palomba. When seen from above, the carving patterns are reminiscent of piano keys, hence the tables’ name.

“Representing Zanat is more than a business opportunity; it is a chance to share something I truly believe in with a new audience. It feels like a natural extension of who I am and what I value.” — Erna Walsh, CEO & Founder K5 Furniture

Australian Connections

Erna Walsh’s decision to bring Zanat to Australia through K5 Furniture recognises the local market’s appreciation for quality craftsmanship. “In Australia, the design and furniture industry holds a deep appreciation for hand-carving and quality craftsmanship,” she notes. “This harmonious blend of modern appreciation and respect for craft makes the Australian market especially welcoming to brands like Zanat.”

“Representing Zanat is more than a business opportunity; it is a chance to share something I truly believe in with a new audience,” Erna concludes. “It feels like a natural extension of who I am and what I value.”

A Decade of Purpose

What feels most instrumental in Zanat’s success journey is how they’ve maintained their core mission while expanding globally. Each piece carries the DNA of centuries-old Bosnian woodcarving tradition, yet speaks a contemporary design language that resonates internationally. This isn’t just furniture—it’s cultural preservation through purposeful design.

As Zanat enters its second decade, it stands as proof that authentic craftsmanship, when paired with visionary design thinking, can create objects that transcend trends and borders. Their success lies not in abandoning tradition, but in giving it new life for contemporary living.

The 2025 collection was showcased at Salone del Mobile in April, marking Zanat’s ninth participation at Milan Design Week—a fitting celebration of a decade that has transformed a regional craft into a global design language. I’ll be watching their continued evolution with immense pride.

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