Nazarlık and Çengel Gallery · Collection catalogue

Nazarlık 04

Protective hanging · Anatolia

Full view of a circular, cowrie-covered hanging, with a tasselled central pendant and several long braided bands ending in loops and tassels. — Object 04 · Frontal view Select to view full-size photograph

Photographic details

Close-up of the central metal disc, cowrie shell circles and red bound tassel on the circular textile ornament. — Central rosette · Coin, cowries and bound tassel

Reverse of the circular red fabric head showing abundant coarse cream-coloured stitches and loose fringes. — Reverse · Felt backing and historic stitching

Catalogue record

Object: 04 · Probably protective camel adornment; Yörük association proposed by collector.
Dimensions: 202 × c. 30 cm (length × head width)
Acquisition: Heinz Johannik collection; acquired in 2026.
Dating: Late 19th–early 20th century, attributed by Johannik.

Materials

Red textile-covered felt; burgundy and navy woven wool bands, wool cords and tassels.
Cowries, irregular handmade lampwork-type beads (turquoise, red and black), brass disc.
Fine blue/yellow bullion-style fringe; long animal or possibly human hair; patterned textile mounts.

Construction And Techniques

Round felt head with loose central brass disc and bound red-wool tassel.
Concentric cowrie bands of varying size, separated by stitched strands of irregular glass beads.
Three surviving attachment loops; six long hanging bands (four navy, two burgundy). Each flat band divides into two c. 37 cm cords and tassels.
Red fabric band secures strands about 51 cm below head; five hair plaits are mounted in patterned textile on one blue strap.

Decorative Features And Motifs

Circular cowrie rosette, contrasting glass beads and alternating blue/yellow fringe.
Long woven bands, paired tassel cords, surviving hair plaits and a lock of hair above the head.

Condition And Alterations

Fading; fraying of two blue looped bands, perhaps historic insect damage.
Original heavy cream stitching supplemented by later black/red cotton repairs. Brass disc partially detached.
Flat reverse may indicate prolonged contact with a surface, but does not establish how displayed.

Motif Research And Cultural Comparisons

Kolan denotes narrow woven bands in Turkish textile traditions; püskül means tassel.
The circular form is best described as a rosette (rozet), not definitively a sun symbol.

Provenance And Research Notes

Attachment loops and scale support the suggested camel-trapping function.