“Collecting these artifacts turned out to be not so difficult. I found some items at flea markets, while others were given to me by friends and acquaintances who knew about my hobby. Over time, I learned a lot of interesting things about each piece. For example, a mortar is a tool designed for grinding and crushing various products. In the 19th and 20th centuries, almost every household had a mortar. It symbolizes overcoming difficulties, getting rid of negative emotions, and unlocking intellectual potential. Archaeologists have discovered mortars made by humans around 35,000 years ago.
One of the most interesting items in my collection is the cast iron pot. These pots, made of cast iron, are still used for cooking. Due to their round shape, they are perfect for cooking in an oven, and the food in them never burns or rusts. In Kyrgyzstan, mass production of cast iron pots began in the early 19th century.
I also have glass holders in my collection, which are closely related to the tradition of tea drinking in both Asian and Russian cuisine. In the past, large samovars were used to boil water, from which tea was poured into glasses or bowls. The bowl allows the tea to cool faster and is more comfortable to hold. However, hot glasses often burned hands, which is why glass holders were created, sometimes made from precious metals like silver and gold,” he shared.
