Crafts of Sarajevo (tools for supporting culture)

The views expressed in this essay are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of MDG-F Programme Culture for Development or implementing agencies.

Crafts of Sarajevo (tools for supporting culture)

By Damir HadŞić

Borders of Bosnia and Herzegovina that is mainly mountainous country are dominated by massif of Dinaric Alps on the west, rivers round up this region, Sava and Una on the north, Drina to the east and Montenegro plateau on the south. In the countryside there are great numbers of rivers that run to the tick forests up to the Herzegovina where river Neretva goes through stone landscape up to the Adriatic Sea. This area is through history inhabited by Illyrians, people of Indo European origin.

Roman conquest did not pass this country; most of the area is conquered in beginning of 9th AD. It can be said that cultural influences of Rome did not made bigger significance in inner parts of the county. After the fall of Rome numerous invaders raided the country, firstly Avars, Goths an then Slavs. Slavs settled on this area in mid 6th century AD, Slavs are considered as significant and dominant group in this region.

Bosnia and Herzegovina is geographically set between two large groups, Croats on west under influence of Carolingian empire and Roman Catholic Church and Serbs with relations to Byzantine Empire and Eastern Orthodox Church. These two groups, beside its common Slavic origins are developing in different cultural, artistic and religious forms. Although this population is considered linguistically and ethnically Slavic, mixtures and conversions that have taken place over period of time are created ethnical coherent but culturally diverse population.

In middle age, Bosnia is connected more to Croatia and Herzegovina is dominated by Kingdom of Crafts are same as Serbia. Bosnia in 1180 becomes an independent buildings - the symbols country, a kingdom under Ban Kulin. Expanded over of this town, its multi the two centuries, Bosnia becomes the most cultural environment powerful state in Western Balkans and due to its and coexistence. rich mines enjoys relative prosperity. Significant aspect of Bosnian medieval history is the nature of indigenous Bosnian church, much influenced by Bulgarian Bogomil sect with dualist beliefs. This church and Bosnia is accused from Vatican for heresy. In this time culture flourished in Bosnia, in areas of manuscript, illumination and metal works. Legendary and original symbol of Bosnia in that time is monumentally decorated tombstone, called Stećak.

With Turkish conquest of the region Islam has introduced as a new religion, it is viewed as reliable religious and social system for majority of population. Long after Ottoman conquests Muslims remained a minority in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

During Ottoman rule in Bosnia and Herzegovina rich cultural heritage developed even more, and become enriched in its oriental component. Arrival of Jews in

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The views expressed in this essay are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of MDG-F Programme Culture for Development or implementing agencies.

Balkans form Spain in 1490th made also a significant contribution to culture and history of Bosnia. Under 400 year Turkish rule Bosnia was bordering with Western Europe, a capital of Sarajevo was second largest city in large Turkish Empire. Culture flourished with development and mix of Islamic, Catholic, Orthodox and Sephardic cultures.

Old crafts in Sarajevo

Today’s Bosnia and Herzegovina is an image of it the past; arts and crafts are embedded in modern culture from past times. In capital of Sarajevo there is Centre of old crafts, located in old city core ambient that is certainly a part of this old crafts tradition. Organized development of crafts in Sarajevo dates with arrival of Ottoman Turks, in 15th century and with rise up of Sarajevo as large urban settlement. This first emergence of crafts started to expand with military needs and with development of construction in new buildings. With development of town also grew the need for utilization of crafts, before all in warfare, construction works, households and jewelry.

In old part of Some written records are mentioning crafts in the Sarajevo every 1490th as notes in cadastral records, understandably group of crafts had this crafts are connected with army needs. Crafts as its own street. black smith, sward makers, footwear makers, leather workers and wool carders are ones most common ones. In the period to come this number has doubled in scale and in new crafts including locksmiths, carpenters, wood carvers, cooks, blanket makers, coppersmiths and so on.

In 17th century with the needs of market and new improved innovations in technology appearance of new crafts is also in increase, clock repairs, brush makers, quilt making and tailors are one of the most present. In period to come gods are produced in large quantities by leather workers, copper smiths, silk makers and black smiths. In some crafts there is peek of aesthetic value and high level of detail reached, some of this products are valued throughout whole empire and well known in region. Specifically works of copper smiths and filigree workers in gold and silver and leather works are exported in distant countries.

In old part of Sarajevo every group of crafts had its own street, named by a dominant craft or similar. These streets have these names even today, and these shops can be found in their purpose named streets. The leather workers are located in the street still known by the name of their craft, Saraći.

In the Ottoman period in Sarajevo crafts were a main branch of commercial activities in old part of town, they provided a living material for majority of urban population. In Austro Hungarian period crafts had difficult position, stagnation was present as well as lack of means to continue works as introduction of new modern technology in production of industrial items appears. Opening of roads and continuing trends in fashion change, lifestyle and clothing lead to direct

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The views expressed in this essay are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of MDG-F Programme Culture for Development or implementing agencies.

disappearance of crafts. Many of the crafts adapted to modern times, modernization helped them to survive in some way. New crafts are emerged and make synergies with the old ones like in shoe making, tailoring, and mechanics of all kind.

With the continued development of market, modernization trends during the twentieth century, certain crafts vanished in total, while those that survived had to adapt their way of working to the times and the demands of the market. There are a significant number of old craftsmen in Baščaršija area who despite all have succeeded in maintaining their traditional appearance and offering their goods.

Today in Baščaršija is not possible to find all of the old crafts present in their historic places of origin, in museum are displayed some number of exhibits that present art of the craftsmen and good hand made works from past. Many of the old crafts are vanished or in a good way to be just a part of the recent history. In exhibits is possible to find dishes, caps, brushes and wood work. Tinsmith works, peddlers, knitting and calligraphy are also present, with cloth makers and slipper makers. This exhibition is dedicated to all the people that still today are working on traditional way in Baščaršija and their crafts are still not vanished entirely.

Majority of exhibition material in museum of Bursa Bezistan is actually the old crafts exhibits cause these works are the first ones that made Baščaršija, and made it interesting to the years to come.

Efforts are to save old crafts and to still appreciate hand made products, it is difficult to combine today, so exhibits and public awareness to “keep alive” old traditions are necessary to make all this time actual. Today some of old crafts are completely disappearing from Baščaršija, like blacksmiths and haberdashers, like rope making and brush making are preserved just by one or two persons in total.

A reason to this situation is absence of schools to educate generations for this calling, and in mass industrial production of goods.

Crafts - keepers of Bašcaršija traditions Every mention of Sarajevo, without saying means an old Baščaršija. Crafts as building are the symbols of this town, its multi cultural environment and coexistence. Crafts, craftsman and their products as real works of art are noticeable on every step of old part of town. They have lived together following all ups and downs through centuries.

Sometimes crafts were organized in societies, guilds, exclusively by its types of craft. At those times crafts are transferred from father or old craftsmen and also there were special schools so the young people can learn and appreciate authentic way of work and tradition. In that time tax deductions and stimulations are given from the government to all of town in its credits, and today craftsmen on their own needs to demand status and benefits, without this is not possible to conduct business today, especially not in the way of constant changes that is brought to us by globalization world wide.

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The views expressed in this essay are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of MDG-F Programme Culture for Development or implementing agencies.

Preservation of cultural heritage needs to be one of most important missions of every environment that has in purpose treasuring of identity but also and promotion of its values. Zone of improved trade of Baščaršija has recognized this big importance for Sarajevo and whole Bosnia and Herzegovina, and assembled expert team in area of cultural heritage, like archeologists, ethnologist and orientalist that are working on promotions values of “Spirit of Baščaršija” in project that will last for 6 months and will produce a catalogue, exhibition and movie.

The goal is to that through texts and photos, on authentic way present creation and development of crafts through history. Movie about works of craftsmen and creation of products on Baščaršija will be shown on opening of the exhibition.

Contents of exhibition will be with most beautiful craft works that are kept in museums and old crafts families. Exhibition aims to show through combination of authentic and modern ambience all of the beauty of old and modern craft works and to create bit forgotten ambience of craftsmen surroundings.

Crafts on Bašcaršija today Today in old part of Sarajevo is possible to find some of the crafts that have origins in old crafts traditions and that exits and working even today.

Slipper-maker’s craft Slipper makers are one of them, when looking in the history, wearing of slippers is closely associated with culture of life and the house. Footwear was assorted according to purpose in the ancient civilizations of the Old East, where the cities are developed. The out of doors footwear was strictly separated from the one that was worn inside the house or temple. It was regarded as blasphemy to enter in a temple or house in the shoes worn out of doors.

This attitude toward the house and the temple was preserved through the history of three monotheistic religions. Slippers became footwear that was worn exclusively in and around the house. With the arrival of the Ottomans in Bosnia, the process of urbanization began with foundation of cities of the Levantine type, where economic life was clearly separated from the family life.

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The views expressed in this essay are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of MDG-F Programme Culture for Development or implementing agencies.

Slippers became a kind of synonym for an urban living culture. The Bosnian word for slipper is “papuča”, is the word of Arabic origin, pronounced as “papuš” in Persian, but it came to us in pronunciation as “papuča”. The Ottomans organized crafts into guilds, and then present craftsmen adapted to newly appointed organizations. The slipper-maker's craft was joined to boot-maker's guild, along with “mestvedžije” a makers of soft leather indoor footwear and “firaeldžije”. The slipper makers were mentioned for the first time in the registry from 1530, from which is visible that there were not so many slipper makers, but by the second half of the 16th century, number of these craftsmen jumped up in number.

Craftsmen from this guild were located in the special street which was named „Čizmedžijska čaršija“, although their workshops were also settled in other parts of the Baščaršija. The workshops were built above the slipper shops. The poorest craftsmen made their products at home and sold it to tradesmen in inns or to domestic traders. Craftsmen of the boot maker’s guild were of middle income state, while the traders were very rich. Tools used for making slippers are basically the same as for all other crafts, which mainly process leather. Now days this products can be purchased in several shops, they popular name for the tourists are “Aladinke”, like Disney cartoon with hero Aladdin who with one rub of a magic lamp, meets up with Genie.

Coppersmiths

Coppersmiths are also a significant part of a guild that also gathers tinsmiths.

The craftsmen create items from copper while the latter make them by tin plating.

Since the items are made from copper, especially tableware, they were not only tin plated, but also decorated with ornaments and engravings, what gives them an artistic dimension.

The decorating in the past was done mostly by women, known as savaćenje. It is a decorating method typical of Sarajevo and has survived to this day. This craft came to Bosnia and Herzegovina with the arrival of Ottoman Turks, and the Coppersmiths’ Bazaar in Sarajevo can be found at the same place where it was founded in the 16th century. Although copper smiths shops could be found in Vratnik, the centre of this craft was in the Oprkanj Street in Baščaršija. This bazaar met the needs for copper smith items of the entire Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Coppersmiths could take pride in the most numerous tools of the trade and in

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The views expressed in this essay are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of MDG-F Programme Culture for Development or implementing agencies.

more than seventy different products including dishes and tableware of various types and sizes, water vessels ewers, jugs and pitchers, coffee ware with jugs, coffee pots and coffee cup holders, different sacred objects, lighting products, items for barber shops, items for baths, etc.

The chief raw materials are copper, tin, lead and sal ammoniac, which were melted in high temperature ovens and then poured in moulds. The work was extremely strenuous and demanded special equipment parcel which was kept moist at all times. The first of the coppersmiths in Sarajevo is mentioned in the year 1489.

Their number gradually increased and they were able to found a guild in early 16th century. Theirs was the first guild whose members started trading in copper, tin and copper smith products. First reports of this can be found in early 18th century, while trading did not appear in other guilds until the 19th century.

Thanks to the Austria Hungarian authorities, a special workshop for handcrafts was established, providing an additional stimulus to this activity. All of their smithies are today located in the tourist attraction in Sarajevo - the Kazandžiluk street. Best purchased souvenir in Sarajevo today is coffee pot with cup holders.

Filigree and silversmith's crafts

Processing and using of metals took very important position in craft production.

Metal processing crafts include black smiting, gun smiting, sword smiting, "zildzije" as production of tools from brass and bronze, lock smiting, copper smiting and silver smiting. Coppersmiths and silversmiths dealt with precise artistic processing of metals. Silversmiths made gold and silver jewelry.

A silversmith's street was founded in the first half of 16th century at location of today's Gazi Husref-bey's Street and Mali Kujundžiluk Street. Goldsmiths work mainly in this street today. The filigree craft originates from silversmith's craft, but by the time, filigree workers perfected their skills and became independent, as a separate trade. At the beginning, silversmiths made pieces of jewelry, while filigree workers made precise ornaments of bent and knitted silver wire to fill voids in the pieces of jewelry, or the ornaments were just glued on the surface.

Filigree is Latin word, which means “something precise”. Since the Turkish word for filigree is “telkar”, it is possible that filigree craft was brought in this region through Ragusa in Italy. The silver ore, used by the craftsmen, had been mainly extracted from various minerals from Kreševo and Srebrenica regions.

A thin wire would be made first and then it was knitted with great precision and soldered for a basis, using special silver powder. Perfect forms were and are still made from a silver wire, thus the filigree art can be rightfully qualified as an art or applied art. Separating from silversmiths, the filigree workers began to make not only jewelry, but also items of use, such as jewelry and money boxes, ladies' bags,

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The views expressed in this essay are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of MDG-F Programme Culture for Development or implementing agencies.

tobacco pipes, cigarette cases, etc. Beside jewelry, their filigree work was used to decorate weapon, respectively, sword handles and different kinds of guns.

Filigree-workers designed various jewelry articles, as they still do, including “belenzuke” and “halhale” a kind of bracelets, earrings, brooches, pendants, “teperluke” a decorations for women's caps, belt buckles and belts. The filigree craft and silver smiting have survived till today, and there are few craftsmen who preserve tradition of jewelry designing. It is to hope that they will transfer their skills to young people, thus the art of silver and gold processing will not die out in our region. Today this jewelry can be bought in the streets of Baščaršija in Sarajevo.

References: - Wenzel, Marian, Ornamental Motifs on Tombstones from Medieval Bosnia and Surrounding Regions. Sarajevo, Veselin Maslesa, 1965 - Basler, Đuro, Cultural history of BiH, 1966 - Ivan Lovrenovic, Labirint i pamčenje, Bosanski Mramorovi, Oslobođenje, Sarajevo 1990 - Old crafts in BiH, Norbert Heyl and Cristina Gregorin, Sarajevo 2008 - Stari zanati, Ahmet Muminovic, Sarajevo, 2008 - www.bhcrafts.ba, www.stari-zanati.ba, www.bascarsija.ba

About Author: Damir Hadžić, born 1976 in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, studied at the Faculty of Architecture, Architecture and Cultural Heritage Conservation and Management of Cultural Property at the Sarajevo University, Bratislava and Siena. On Faculty of Architecture in Sarajevo received an architects diploma at Academia Istropolitana Nova in Bratislava, and by the University of Siena master and reported the doctorate. Works as an architect and consultant in the private, public and non-governmental sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovakia, Italy, Slovenia and Sweden. Published about 20 papers and over 90 projects in the fields of architecture, restoration and reconstruction of cultural heritage.

Held lectures on the theory and practice in the restoration and protection of cultural heritage at numerous conferences and seminars in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in the world. One of the founders of the non-governmental organization Group for Heritage, the first registered at the state level in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which deals with the themes of reconstruction and restoration of cultural heritage and preservation of cultural and historical values of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Actively involved in projects of post-war reconstruction and restoration of national monuments in Bosnia and Herzegovina since 2000.

About the MDG-F Programme: The Programme Culture for Development is a three-year programme funded by the Spanish Millennium Development Goals Achievement Fund which is being implemented in partnership of three UN Agencies: UNDP, UNICEF and UNESCO, in cooperation with the

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The views expressed in this essay are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of MDG-F Programme Culture for Development or implementing agencies.

Ministry of Civil Affairs of BiH, Ministry of Culture and Sports of FBiH, Ministry of Education and Culture of RS, as well as other institutions working in the area of education and culture. The Programme started in January 2009.

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