Simeon Zlatev "Mone" in front of his museum - A.Samardjiev
With dedication and passion, Simeon Zlatev has created a true ethnographic museum by collecting traditional Macedonian objects, now mostly disappeared, for over three decades
In a cottage in a village near Tetovo, North Macedonia, Simeon Zlatev, or “Monet”, has collected about 2000 old objects since 1991. Adults as well as children and students come here to learn about local cultural heritage.
In the yard, many traditional folk costumes welcome the visitors. Simeon explains that they were handmade by very hardworking great-grandmothers. The men's costume is simple, he says: it has one big pocket, where they put grain and threw as food for the cattle. Man’s shoes are made of pigskin. “Everything they made is thanks to their thoughts and hard work”, says Simeon.
Simeon, who is now in his eighties, started as a child to collect old objects from his grandmothers. So, over the years, he collected many objects that are largely no longer used – such as water pitchers, typewriters, and the like – arranged by purpose, groups, and categories.
By 1991, a larger collection had been gathered, so he received advice from his closest relatives and friends to share such a rich cultural and traditional heritage with the general public.
For the last 33 years, individuals, groups, schools, and colleges have been visiting the museum – Monet estimates over 60,000 visitors.
“Two students ‘graduated’ from the museum: one received here her master's degree in Vienna, while another received her doctorate on parts of objects used by the Museum at the Cyril and Methodius University (UKIM)”, he proudly informs us.
He managed to publish 12 books, all related to the objects and the museum.
“The smallest object in the museum, I call it a ballot, it's rubber. It has a centimeter diameter, like a ball. The heaviest object was and still is a stone mill for grinding grain. My biggest object is a painted copper sofa. Apart from the fact that it was used by rich people in the Ottoman period as a dining table, and it is so stylishly processed, some people used it and hung it on the wall, as a decoration", says our interlocutor.
Many foreigners know about this treasure. Visitors include Warwick Davis, the “shortest actor in the world”, known for his roles in the films Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter. In 2010 he was there with Carl Pilkinton, filming an episode of the series "In the Footsteps of Marco Polo" on Discovery TV. Our host says it was one of the most memorable days at the museum.
“The smallest actor in the world in the smallest ethnic museum in the world. They came with special cameras, I was surprised. Neighbours brought out chairs, tables, many people gathered”, Monet recalls.
Apart from published books, word about the smallest ethnic museum is also spread through regular exhibitions in which Simeon participates with some of the objects. Tetovo enthusiast regularly report the museum as a place to visit as part of the "European Days of Cultural Heritage" event.
