Exhibition of ZANAT, a Woodworking Furniture Brand Registered as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, Starts May 27 at ACTUS Shinsaibashi Store
ACTUS Co., Ltd. will hold an exhibition of the Bosnian woodworking furniture brand 'ZANAT' at the ACTUS Shinsaibashi store from May 27 to June 23. The exhibition will feature collaborative furniture showcasing 100 years of hand-carving techniques and renowned designers.
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ACTUS Co., Ltd. (Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo / President: Ken Murata), an interior sales company, will participate in 'Osaka Art & Design 2026,' an area-touring event where visitors encounter unknown art and design while exploring the streets of Osaka. As part of this event's program, the 'ZANAT Exhibition: The Story of 100 Years of Hand-Carved Furniture Nurtured by Bosnia' will be held at the ACTUS Shinsaibashi store from Wednesday, May 27 to Tuesday, June 23, 2026.
■ '100 Years of Hand-Carved Craft,' Registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage After Surviving Turbulent Times
The focus of this exhibition, ZANAT, is a wooden furniture brand from Bosnia and Herzegovina. The brand name 'ZANAT' means 'craft' in Bosnian, and its name embodies the indomitable story of a certain family.
The roots of ZANAT date back to the late 19th century when Gano Niksic, the great-grandfather of current owner Orhan Niksic, mastered pioneering wood carving techniques in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Later, in 1919, his sons opened a workshop in Konjic, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the family has been manufacturing hand-carved furniture for four generations up to the present day.
However, the path was never smooth; the family faced World War II and the Bosnian War in the 1990s, and their hand-carving techniques repeatedly stood on the brink of extinction. Nevertheless, they never gave up their family business of wood carving crafts and have passed it down to the modern era. In recognition of this, ZANAT's wood carving techniques were officially registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2017. Characterized by a deep history and unique craftsmanship that sets them apart from others, their greatest feature is the manual process of breathing life into wood.
■ The Charm of ZANAT Through the Fusion of Unique Hand-Carving Techniques and Global Design
ZANAT's uniqueness lies not only in inheriting past techniques but also in evolving hand-carving techniques to suit modern lifestyles. Orhan Niksic, the current owner leading the brand, held a strong belief: 'Instead of discarding traditional crafts for modern living, we can find and incorporate modernity precisely within traditional crafts.' Based on this firm philosophy, the brand actively collaborates with world-renowned designers such as Naoto Fukasawa, Monica Förster, and Patrick Norguet. The stunning fusion of their refined sensibilities and traditional craftsmanship continues to produce unprecedented, innovative furniture with an aesthetic beauty that intuitively appeals to people's hearts and makes them 'want to touch' it.
At the venue of this special exhibition, visitors can actually see numerous masterpieces born from such history and innovative approaches.
■ Selected ZANAT Collection Scheduled for Exhibition
MOSTAR STOOL
A stool where contemporary design coexists with primitive carvings as if carved out of a log. The elegant arches of the legs use the old bridge in Mostar, a city in Bosnia, as a motif, representing the connection between people. The contrast between the smooth exterior and the hand carving on the back of the seat conveys the skilled craftsmanship.
Designer: Naoto Fukasawa
W30×D30×H45cm
Material / Walnut
￥345,400
KORZO DINING TABLE
The legs of the table are made of sturdy metal. The tabletop is chamfered from below, with soft carvings applied along the edges. The central pillar legs are elegantly carved from solid wood, adding grace and warmth not only to the product but also to the space where it is installed.
Designer: Patrick Norguet
Φ69.7×H74cm
Material / Oak, Bronze
￥393,800
NERA COFFEE TABLE
A highly popular collection among ZANAT that decorates a space just like an objet d'art. It features a combination of a smoked glass top and a hand-carved base.
Designer: Monica Förster
High type: W45×D45×H44cm
￥302,500 -
Low type: W62×D68×H35cm
Material / Walnut
￥399,300
SAVA ARM CHAIR
It combines a crescent-shaped curved backrest with a fabric-upholstered padded seat, allowing you to enjoy the tactile sensation of hand carving from the subtle carvings applied to the back of the arms.
Designer: Patrick No
■ '100 Years of Hand-Carved Craft,' Registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage After Surviving Turbulent Times
The focus of this exhibition, ZANAT, is a wooden furniture brand from Bosnia and Herzegovina. The brand name 'ZANAT' means 'craft' in Bosnian, and its name embodies the indomitable story of a certain family.
The roots of ZANAT date back to the late 19th century when Gano Niksic, the great-grandfather of current owner Orhan Niksic, mastered pioneering wood carving techniques in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Later, in 1919, his sons opened a workshop in Konjic, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the family has been manufacturing hand-carved furniture for four generations up to the present day.
However, the path was never smooth; the family faced World War II and the Bosnian War in the 1990s, and their hand-carving techniques repeatedly stood on the brink of extinction. Nevertheless, they never gave up their family business of wood carving crafts and have passed it down to the modern era. In recognition of this, ZANAT's wood carving techniques were officially registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2017. Characterized by a deep history and unique craftsmanship that sets them apart from others, their greatest feature is the manual process of breathing life into wood.
■ The Charm of ZANAT Through the Fusion of Unique Hand-Carving Techniques and Global Design
ZANAT's uniqueness lies not only in inheriting past techniques but also in evolving hand-carving techniques to suit modern lifestyles. Orhan Niksic, the current owner leading the brand, held a strong belief: 'Instead of discarding traditional crafts for modern living, we can find and incorporate modernity precisely within traditional crafts.' Based on this firm philosophy, the brand actively collaborates with world-renowned designers such as Naoto Fukasawa, Monica Förster, and Patrick Norguet. The stunning fusion of their refined sensibilities and traditional craftsmanship continues to produce unprecedented, innovative furniture with an aesthetic beauty that intuitively appeals to people's hearts and makes them 'want to touch' it.
At the venue of this special exhibition, visitors can actually see numerous masterpieces born from such history and innovative approaches.
■ Selected ZANAT Collection Scheduled for Exhibition
MOSTAR STOOL
A stool where contemporary design coexists with primitive carvings as if carved out of a log. The elegant arches of the legs use the old bridge in Mostar, a city in Bosnia, as a motif, representing the connection between people. The contrast between the smooth exterior and the hand carving on the back of the seat conveys the skilled craftsmanship.
Designer: Naoto Fukasawa
W30×D30×H45cm
Material / Walnut
￥345,400
KORZO DINING TABLE
The legs of the table are made of sturdy metal. The tabletop is chamfered from below, with soft carvings applied along the edges. The central pillar legs are elegantly carved from solid wood, adding grace and warmth not only to the product but also to the space where it is installed.
Designer: Patrick Norguet
Φ69.7×H74cm
Material / Oak, Bronze
￥393,800
NERA COFFEE TABLE
A highly popular collection among ZANAT that decorates a space just like an objet d'art. It features a combination of a smoked glass top and a hand-carved base.
Designer: Monica Förster
High type: W45×D45×H44cm
￥302,500 -
Low type: W62×D68×H35cm
Material / Walnut
￥399,300
SAVA ARM CHAIR
It combines a crescent-shaped curved backrest with a fabric-upholstered padded seat, allowing you to enjoy the tactile sensation of hand carving from the subtle carvings applied to the back of the arms.
Designer: Patrick No
FAQ
Where will the ZANAT Exhibition be held?
It will be held at the ACTUS Shinsaibashi store.
Which country is the ZANAT brand from?
It is a woodworking furniture brand from Bosnia and Herzegovina.
What kind of works will be exhibited?
Works like stools designed by Naoto Fukasawa and tables designed by Patrick Norguet will be exhibited.