First information about crafts in Sarajevo appeared less than three decades after its foundation, and they refer to the year 1489 when the census of Bosnian Sanjak was completed. Already after the next census in 1530, the number of crafts suddenly rose and more than doubled, with forty specified. In the 16th century, new crafts appeared, including čelengir – nail maker, bičakčija – knife maker, sapundžija – soap maker, nanuldžija – wooden slipper maker, kazaz – silk garment maker, mudželit – bookbinder, samardžija – saddle maker, mejhandžija – tavern keeper, kahvedžija – café keeper, taščija – stonemason. This practice continued in the 17th century, when some new crafts were first mentioned: zvonar – bell ringer, kantardžija – steelyard maker, sahadžija – clock maker, jorgandžija – quilt maker, abadžija – rural clothes maker, češljar – comb maker, nakaš – house painter, etc. Despite numerous difficulties (different diseases and twelve large fires), Sarajevo and its economy were in a continuous growth in the 18th century. Today in Baščaršija many street bear the names of old crafts, many of which no longer exist.
Old crafts Virtual Museum project aims to introduce the users with Baščaršija crafts tradition and to contribute to preservation of the memory on cratfs which dissapeared. In this version of the project, the users will find out the details about crafts facing extinction: četkar (brush maker), kazaz (tailor decorater) and bozadžija (maker of drink called boza) through Virtual Reality application. They can also learn about the historical development of crafts in Sarajevo and get to know meanings of craft names that are not familiar any more to the general public.
