First, a little history. The Republic of Croatia became independent after the breakdown of Yugoslavia in 1990. A Croatian state did, though, actually exist from the 7th to the 12th century, when it became integrated into other countries, in several different parts. However, its historical coat of arms from the 11th century lasted the whole time, making a visual identity for it.

The word antique comes from the French word antiquité, which means something old, an object of artistic or historic value, created in the relatively distant past. This can relate to coins, sculpture, paintings, furniture, jewellery, etc., and it can be referred to as Roman, Chinese, Renaissance or Baroque, depending on the time and place when the object was created.

Zagreb – a little big city or a big little city, the capital of Croatia, or a mini version of Croatia, manages to surprise its guests with its beauty, warmth, intimacy of its different images…

Back in legendary 1968, a year of turbulent student and democratic events in Europe and the year when I started to learn English in primary school, my father introduced me to the American edition of National Geographic. Although I found the language too difficult to understand, the amazing photographs of the yellow-framed magazine showed me a new, yet unknown world.