Life and Culture of the Urban Population of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the 19th Century

The permanent exhibition at the Department of Ethnology provides insight into the residential culture and, in general, the culture of life of the wealthy urban population. Visitors can see scenes from life, set in six authentic rooms dating from the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

The first room was transferred from the residence of Derviš-beg Kršlak from Jajce. It features a scene of courtship (ashikovanje) – a conversation between a girl and a young man.

The second room was transferred from the house of the Sabura family from Sarajevo, a prominent and wealthy coppersmith and merchant family: the family sits at a sinija (low round table) with a demirlija (iron-clad pan) on which food was served.

The exhibition also reconstructed the kamarija – a specially decorated space on the first floor, at the end of the hallway, with an extension on the outer wall of the house. This is where girls most often sat and embroidered their maiden’s attire (garments) for marriage.

The fourth room was transferred from the residence of the Hadžirustembegović family from Srebrenica. It depicts a trial before the Commercial Court (Tidžaret mejlis): there is a judge (kadija), next to whom are seated prominent citizens, members of the Judicial Council, in clothing that reflects the religious and class differences between them.

In a small room, also from the Sabura family house, the richest social class of the Ottoman period in Bosnia and Herzegovina is represented. The wealthy landowners, with their clothing, weapons and other expensive objects, showed their social status.

The last, luxuriously furnished room was transferred from Natkovači in Sarajevo, and is presented in the exhibition as a room for women (harem). The ceiling and walls are painted with floral ornaments, and the windows have stained glass windows made in Florence.