Koichumanov, who was born and raised in Talas, graduated from the local secondary school No. 1 with instruction in Kyrgyz in 1982. “I inherited the craft from my grandfather, who was a skilled master. From a young age, I was attracted to working with wood, and over time, it became my profession. I also engage in house construction,” he told a Turmush correspondent.
Baktybek began his career by making saddles. “At first, I covered them with leather and sold them at livestock markets. In the past, one could get a sheep for a saddle. My products were even sent to Denmark — tourists took them with them. Working with saddles requires careful processing of both wood and leather. Many clients specifically come to me for quality saddles. Once, after returning from the market, I left one saddle on my bicycle, and it was stolen while I was drinking tea at home. Back then, there were no cameras, and I couldn’t find it,” the master recalls.
Over the past ten years, Koichumanov has found a new direction in his creativity. “I started carving animal figures from wood. I use stumps as stands for golden eagles, and I also create ibexes and mountain goats, covering them with leather. For example, wooden horns can weigh over 5 kilograms, and the head of a goat can weigh more than 15 kilograms. Usually, I make 2–3 eagle figures a month. Orders even come from Moscow, but most often my works are bought for entertainment centers. I created a huge figure of a bear, which was sold for a thousand dollars, while the snow leopard and lion went for 50,000 soms. Eagles cost from 10,000 to 15,000 soms,” Baktybek shared.
Despite the fact that leather is rarely purchased now, it is not wasted. Baktybek personally visits slaughterhouses to select quality materials. “I process hides using lime, ayran, diesel, and other means. The quality is especially good now, and in spring, the wool of the livestock will start to grow, which will make me engage in shearing again. So right now, I am actively processing, and in spring, I will return to creating new products. We earn a living, step by step,” says the master.
Baktybek Koichumanov is raising three children — one son and two daughters, together with his wife.
