Annashkat

Many objects of everyday life in Andaperna are still made of copper or bronze, as these are easier to mine and produce than iron. But these tools and appliances also suffer from oxidation, which makes them weak and brittle. To prevent this from happening, annashkat was developed, a paste, that sands surfaces and lays a protective layer over them.

The main ingredients of annashkat are a very fine clay, won by a complex washing process of the alluvial soil of Andapernas rivers as well as Olive oil and distilled mesentery of staraspa, a horse like animal endemic to Andaperna. While the first obviously contributes the sanding property to annashkat, the latter serves to seal and protect the surface. Also so called urda (or in other languages erdu) makes up a part of the paste. Urda is made up of the fine clay from the aforementioned washing process, which is rubbed against copper, most of the time in a large copper pan. This clay with fine copper particles in it is mixed with powdered coal and heated on a closed metal pot or box over a very hot fire. The clay and copper mix into a dark red powder, although sometimes chunks form, which have to be sorted out so only the finest material remains. Lastly the juice of reed rhizomes is reduced over a slow burning fire until it has the viscosity of honey. These five ingredients form annashkat.

Applying annashkat is not a simple process, as it only works, if thoroughly worked into the surface. This usually takes two to three applications. First the object in question is heated, preferably in hot water, because this will result in a temperature most apt for the process. Then a generous amount of annashkat is smeared all over the surface. The annashkat is worked in with a soft piece of cloth or fine leather. After cooling down, the annashkat is burnt off over an open flame. After this first application and the burning off, crusts of soot cover the object. These have to be worked off with a second application of annashkat, which is again applied and rubbed in with cloth or leather. This second round takes a long time, first to get rid of the soot crusts, second, to remove all superfluous annashkat from the object. Often over a dozen pieces of cloth are used, before the object is sufficiently cleaned and sealed.

This seal is very reliable, especially if there is only little physical wear on the object. In that case it can hold for several years. Objects experiencing a higher and more demanding use usually get sealed once a year. This happens preferably around the Kameshayas kalammas, an annual festival, which is often used as an occasion to take care of house and appliances.