Not allowing the tradition of their ancestors to be lost to time, Sabiha and Haso Saric from the southern town of Blagaj collected for years old items and are now turning their home into a museum called ‘Blagajska Sehara’ (Blagaj Chest).
Haso is a retired driver and collected various antiques he would come across during his travels.
“I gathered a lot of things, but there is still more to gather. I enjoyed it and I still enjoy these antiques. I love antiques, as my parents and grandparents used them, so did I,” he said.
The couple said they created the museum purely out of love and a wish to preserve a rich tradition, culture and way of life in Blagaj and Herzegovina.
The Saric home is filled with old ottomans, barrels, stoves, traditional clothes, shoes, fabric-making and handicraft items and other antiques. Sabiha decorated the house museum with details she made herself.
“We made everything with our own hands,” she said. “My husband created the divans, the pillows and everything that is made out of wood and stone.”
All of their items are precious but Sabiha pointed out those once used by the family, such as a carpet weaving machine which nearly every household had to have.
“When I came here, when I got married to my husband, there were old closets here, an old stove, there was a clay pot which was used every morning, the bride would have to get up early in the morning and make coffee, people would sit on the ottomans,” she said.
Although the Museum is still not officially opened, tourists drop by from time to time. Entry is free, and guests have the opportunity to enjoy Sabiha’s self-made sage juice and fig cake.
