Marti Dean

Nazarlık and Çengel Gallery · Collection catalogue

Nazarlık 06

Protective hanging · Anatolia

Frontal view of a circular cowrie-decorated hanging with red, beige and grey braided bands and wool tassels.
Object 06 · Frontal view Select to view full-size photograph

Photographic details

Close-up of circular cowrie rows and yellow glass beads around a small central flower with a button centre.
Circular head · Cowrie rosette and yellow beadwork
Close-up of broad woven wool bands transitioning to coloured wool tassels with small beads above the bindings.
Lower bands · Braiding and wool tassels

Catalogue record

Object
06 · Protective adornment for horse or camel.
Dimensions
133 × 27 cm (length including suspension × head width)
Acquisition
Heinz Johannik collection; acquired at online auction, 2026.
Dating
Late 19th–early 20th century, attributed by Johannik.

Materials

  • Substantial handmade felt, red fabric, black edging and blue-wrapped wool piping.
  • Cowries, yellow glass seed beads, handmade glass ring beads in orange, blue and green.
  • Wool braids/tassels, dyed blue animal hair or wool; modern blue plastic beads; central button and replacement horn/bone button.

Construction And Techniques

  • Round head thickens to shallow cone (collector estimates 5–7.5 cm centrally).
  • Radiating side-by-side cowries, larger at perimeter, stitched with heavy cream yarn; yellow bead strands sewn between rows.
  • Central flower on undulating black felt; fabric-wrapped wool edging. Hair tufts fitted in cloth mounts.
  • Four descending wool bands c. 5 cm wide joined with burgundy stitches; bands split into side cords and later into paired lower tassel cords. Additional long suspension band behind.
  • Glass ring beads rest above wrapped tassel heads.

Decorative Features And Motifs

  • Petal-like radiating cowries around a central floral motif.
  • Contrasting red/black/blue head edging; alternating faded ochres, reddish oranges and beiges in the bands.

Condition And Alterations

  • Faded colours; some missing or restitched cowries, including one replaced by a horn/bone button.
  • Modern plastic-bead row and cowrie-decorated horizontal binding are thought to be later additions.
  • Surviving blue hair tuft and traces of lost counterparts.

Motif Research And Cultural Comparisons

  • Flower (çiçek) and rosette (rozet) are useful descriptive terms; no specific inherited flower motif is established.
  • Eye protection and cowrie uses are broadly relevant to these objects, without determining a maker’s intention [1, 2].

Provenance And Research Notes

  • Distinguish actual glass beads from modern plastic additions in future photographs.