Exclusive in Banja Luka
“ZMIJANJE – Mosaic of the Soul” is an exclusive collection inspired by the traditional Zmijanje embroidery. Zmijanje embroidery is a specific technique of embroidery practised by the Serbian women of villages in the area of Zmijanje on mountain Manjača, near Banja Luka in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In 2014 it was included in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The collection is available at Galerija PLUS in Banja Luka.
“ZMIJANJE – Mosaic of the Soul” CONCEPT
Zmijanje does not treat traditional embroidery as an ornament, but as a code. The motif is broken down into mosaic fragments—parts of a sign that function as individual pieces of jewelry. Only through their mutual relationship does a whole emerge. Identity is not built all at once; it arises through the relationship between the parts and the whole they create together.
Instead of literally transferring the ornament, a contemporary system of signs has been developed—one in which the motif is not reproduced but deconstructed, questioned, and rebuilt.
The foundation of this system consists of three interconnected segments, expressed through the three Premium segments of the collection:
Two – Voice Earrings
These introduce the principle of relationship and balance. As a pair, they do not repeat the sign but articulate it in two voices – left and right, identical and different, individual and paired. The sign is divided, yet not lost; it exists through mutual listening and harmony, like embroidery created through repetition and rhythm.
Four – Point Rings (Set)
This segment breaks down the sign into elements and states of matter – brass and copper, shine and patina – introducing the idea of time, duration, and personal choice. Each ring represents one state of the symbol, while together they form an open dialogue between material and meaning.
Zmijanje Necklace – The Point of Convergence
This piece completes the system. It condenses the entire sign into a single vertical form, crowned with a lapis lazuli stone whose deep blue shade evokes the traditional dark-blue color of Zmijanje embroidery. The stone is not a decorative accent but a bearer of color, memory, and continuity.
Together, the rings, earrings, and necklace do not function as individual ornaments but as parts of a single sign placed in space. The collection does not speak of tradition as a finished form, but as a living system-one that can be worn, altered, and reinterpreted.
The Zmijanje – Mosaic of the Soul collection establishes a dialogue between materials, symbols, and personal memory, affirming jewelry as a contemporary artistic medium.
The collection also includes pieces composed of intentionally isolated fragments of the core sign, which retain symbolic and formal ties to the premium collection but are distilled into forms intended for everyday wear. There are also pieces that express the rhythm and geometry of the foundational sign translated into a minimalist form.
Exclusive in Sarajevo
Exclusive jewelry collections were created for the concept store “Bazerdžan”. The collections are divided into: “The Guardians of Nature” Collection, “The Guardians of Heritage” Collection and “The Timeless Collection”. Jewelry from this collections are exclusively available in their store in Sarajevo. In addition to motifs representing protected plant and animal species of Bosnia and Herzegovina, there are also pieces that reflect the country’s historical heritage as well as timeless designs found in certain creations.
BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA PROTECTED PLANT – LIVERLEAF (HEPATICA NOBILIS) – “The Guardians of Nature” Collection
Liverleaf is an endangered species and needs protection from picking and destruction, so it is important to preserve it and not pick it in the wild. The Latin name of the genus Hepatica derives from the Greek word hepar (liver), due to its historical use in treating liver diseases and the leaf’s resemblance to the liver. In the past, the flowers and leaves of liverleaf were utilized in folk medicine to address liver-related issues.
BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA PROTECTED ANIMAL SPECIES – “The Guardians of Nature” Collection
BROWN BEAR – A rare and protected species. It is an omnivore in its diet. The average territory of each individual is 250 square kilometers, and these animals lead a solitary life (except during the mating season).
WOLF – A protected species. Wolves live in a variety of environments. Although a lone wolf can occasionally be encountered in the wild, the normal social life of wolves takes place in a pack. A wolf pack typically consists of a parental pair (alpha male and alpha female) and their offspring. The main prey of wolves consists of large herbivores, and they hunt the species that is most common in the area where they live.
COLLECTION INSPIRED BY MOTIFS FROM STEĆCI (Monumental stone slabs from the 12th to 16th centuries in Bosnia and Herzegovina) – “The Guardians of Heritage” Collection
SVETOVID – GOD OF THE SUN AND GOD OF WAR was a pre – Christian supreme deity of the Baltic Slavs. It was believed that Svetovid had four heads, with each head looking in the direction of one of the cardinal points. Svetovid was believed to control military campaigns and successes, trade journeys, and the prosperity of the harvest. He simultaneously held a bow or sword in his hands as a symbol of war, and a drinking horn, which symbolized abundance. It was believed that Svetovid rode a white horse with the power of foresight and could predict the outcome of battles with certainty.
The Sun, or the solar wheel divided into 8 parts, often depicted on the stećci with Svetovid, actually represents the scheme of life, while the solar wheel divided into 12 parts symbolizes the 12 months of the year.
Other names for Svetovid include Svarog, Jarilo, Radgost, Perun, and Dajbog, all of whom represent the Sun in the yearly seasons, with the god of the Sun being Svetovid.
TYPE OF FERN (ASPLENIUM LEPIDUM) – LIMITED EDITION – “The Guardians of Nature” Collection
The Latin name of the genus Asplenium originates from the Greek word spleen, reflecting the belief that these plants could treat spleen disorders. Historically, it was believed that mental ailments had their origins in spleen diseases, leading to the use of these ferns in treating conditions such as depression, melancholy, and similar disorders.
DRAGONFY (LESTES MACROSTIGMA) – “The Guardians of Nature” Collection
The oldest known records of dragonflies in Bosnia and Herzegovina date back to the late 19th century, specifically to the year 1888, and can be found in the collections of the National Museum in Sarajevo. So far, 65 species of dragonflies have been recorded in Bosnia and Herzegovina, among which are two rare and endangered species, one of them being “Lestes macrostigma”, which can be seen in the region of southern Herzegovina.
OTHER JEWELRY PIECES
- Pendant “B&H MAP” – “The Guardians of Heritage” Collection
- Pendant and earrings “TRADITIONAL DUCAT COIN” – “The Guardians of Heritage” Collection
- Earrings “CIRCLES” – “The Timeless Collection”
- Earrings “COMMA” – “The Timeless Collection”
- Earrings and pendant “PHILODENDRON” – “The Timeless Collection”
- Earrings “DOVE OF PEACE” – “The Guardians of Heritage” Collection
- Earrings “HEARTS” – “The Timeless Collection”
This is not just jewelry. This is a piece of story, tradition and art - crafted by the hand of a woman, for a woman who knows her worth.
2025 Copyright by NATASHA RUBIS