Agreement on the allocation of funds for continuation of restoration works on the interior of Mišćina mosque in Sarajevo
9/25/2016
The Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in BiH donated funds in the amount of 14,000.00 KM (€ 7,180.00) to the Commission to Preserve National Monuments to continue the implementation of the project of restoration works on the interior Mišćina mosque in Sarajevo, and for the completion of conservation works on the wall painting of Medina. Agreement on the allocation of funds was signed today in the premises of the German Embassy in Sarajevo.
Unique examples of wall paintings in Bosnia and Herzegovina have been preserved on the wall of the Mišćina mosque. Images show cityscapes of Mecca and Medina and the cemetery Jannat al-Baqi, and were influenced by the teachings and customs of Sufi orders and collection of Dala'il al-Khayrat's litanies, which is taught in Naqshbandi Sufi order and starts with these images.
The Commission to Preserve National Monuments in cooperation with the Majlis of Islamic Community in Sarajevo, completed the implementation of the first phase of the project during this year. This comprised completion of conservation and restoration works on mihrab, mimber, mahfil and entrance door, and works on consolidation of wall paintings of Mecca and Medina, which stabilized these valuable works of art.
Wall painting of Mecca, performed in secco technique, which was extremely compromised, now is fully restored, while the second painting showing Medina, due to its present condition and complexity of conservation works is going to be restored throughout the second phase, which should be completed by the end of this year.
The Federal Republic of Germany donated money for the first phase of the project in 2015, in the amount of 72,717.76 BAM. Grant funds were secured by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany through the support for the projects related to culture. Therefore, overall donation for the restoration of the interior of this national monument amounts more than 86,700.00 KM.
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Kebkebir Hajji Ahmed mosque was built in 1557 and it has always been known as Mišćina mosque, after muezzin Mišća who lived in the 18th century and whom people loved. It was destroyed in a fire that was caused by Prince Eugene of Savoy attacks on Sarajevo, and was renovated in 1700. The mosque was painted in 1870 by Mustafa Fagin, the second and most important "nakaš" (painter) in chronological sequence of Faginović family. Mustafa Fagin was born in Sarajevo in 1839 and died in Istanbul in 1900.
At the session held from 6 to 8 November 2012, the Commission to Preserve National Monuments adopted the Decision to designate the historic building - Mišćina (Kebkebir Hajji Ahmed) mosque in Sarajevo as a national monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina.