Conversation pieces
A new collection speaks volumes about the future of design
The origins of Bosnian craft brand Zanat date back more than a century, when founder Orhan Niksic’s greatgrandfather stumbled on a primitive handcarving technique that originated near his hometown of Konjic. He established a woodcarving workshop and passed the now Unesco-protected technique down through family generations. Niksic started Zanat in 2015 with the aim of preserving this family legacy and he saw the recent pandemic as a chance to discuss themes of family and home. ‘The lockdown has been a good opportunity to stay closer to our household members, to ponder the future, the human condition and what truly matters to us,’ he says. Niksic took up discussions with some of Europe’s most celebrated designers, including Monica Förster, Ilse Crawford, Sebastian Herkner, and Ludovica and
Roberto Palomba. ‘We all agreed that the future cannot look like the past, that sustainability and ethics pertaining to how products are made, brought to market, and consumed can no longer be a matter of choice, but must be a design imperative.’ And so the Lockdown Dialogues Project was born. ‘Our aim was to create a collection of functional objects that improve the experience of staying at home and hopefully become heirloom pieces, objects made from responsibly sourced, renewable natural materials that clearly demonstrate the value of craftsmanship.’ The collection includes mirrors by Förster, stools and candleholders by the Palombas, and bowls by Crawford. Niksic hopes these objects can enrich our lives while also creating employment opportunities and preserving important artisanal skills and cultural heritage. zanat.org