The yoke is a wooden arc with hooks or notches at the ends, used for carrying buckets of water on the shoulders.
The price for this artifact was 1,500 soms, and it was purchased in just two hours.
“Fifty years ago, such items were an integral part of everyday life in Kyrgyzstan. Today, many young people do not know how to use a yoke or what it is intended for. This tool allowed for the simultaneous transport of two buckets of water over significant distances, making the task easier when running water was only available at public taps or wells,” explained Podgorny.
In addition to its practical use, the yoke also had symbolic meaning, embodying the relationship between a man and a woman. If both buckets are full, they are easier to carry; if one is empty, the journey becomes more difficult — this is a metaphor for family life, where balance and equilibrium in relationships are important.
It should be noted that carrying water was traditionally considered a woman's task. The yoke served as a helper for women, and men who used it sometimes became the subject of jokes. Typically, yokes were made of wood and often decorated with painting and carving. This particular specimen was created in the 1950s-60s. Yokes were given by fathers to their daughters, by grooms to brides, and by husbands to their wives. Research shows that using a yoke helped prevent back injuries associated with lifting heavy loads and shaped a beautiful figure, lending grace to the walk and strength to the arms, while preserving feminine elegance,” added local historian M. Podgorny.
