“BOSNIAN CARPET” ON THE PATH TO UNESCO INTANGIBLE HERITAGE LIST

The “Bosnian carpet” has been placed on the Preliminary Open List of Intangible Cultural and Historical Heritage of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the state-level list of Bosnia and Herzegovina, following an initiative by the Museum of Sarajevo.

PHOTO: Unsplash / Robert Levonyan

In partnership with the Travnik Homeland Museum and researcher Amila Smajović, a comprehensive application with full documentation has been submitted to the Federal Ministry of Culture and Sport.

Founded in 1949, the Museum of Sarajevo has been dedicated to collecting, studying, preserving, publishing, and presenting the social, economic, and cultural history of Sarajevo from ancient times to the present day. Within its ethnological collection, as well as in its depots such as Svrzo’s House and Despić House, the museum holds a significant collection of Bosnian carpets that have been documented, inventoried, and professionally described, accompanied by photographs.

This positions the Museum of Sarajevo among the leading museum institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina that preserve and professionally interpret the full range of ornamentation, symbolism, materials, and other distinctive features of the Bosnian carpet.

One of the Most Authentic Forms of Expression

Inclusion on the list ensures institutional recognition and protection of the Bosnian carpet as a cultural asset. It represents one of the most authentic forms of material and spiritual creativity in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

As a textile form that combines functional, aesthetic, and symbolic dimensions, the Bosnian carpet has not only served everyday practical purposes but has also carried collective memory, family identity, and the cultural continuity of communities.

The Museum of Sarajevo, together with its partners and relevant state institutions, will continue working toward meeting the criteria required for the inclusion of the “Bosnian carpet” on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, the museum announced.