Marti Dean

Nazarlık and Çengel Gallery · Collection catalogue

Nazarlık 07

Protective hanging · Anatolia

Frontal full-length view of a diamond-shaped cowrie-decorated hanging with a forged iron hook and two long descending textile strips.
Object 07 · Frontal view Select to view full-size photograph

Photographic details

Close-up of the cowrie-shell diamond and four radiating axes, with blue glass beads at the centres of surrounding flowers, animal-hair fringe and an iron hanging ring.
Decorative head · Cowries and blue glass beads
Reverse view of the diamond-shaped head showing the central suspension band, dense backing stitches, textile mounts for the hair fringe, and iron ring.
Reverse · Stitching, hair attachments and suspension band

Catalogue record

Object
07 · Sold as a protective camel ornament; horse use not excluded.
Dimensions
136 × 29 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

  • Soft diamond-shaped felt head with black underlayer and faded striped fabric surface.
  • Very fine braided straps, probably cotton; cowries and Syrian-style turquoise glass beads.
  • Dyed animal hair/fur attached in textile mounts; hand-wrought iron hook and large ring.

Construction And Techniques

  • Forged hook has lateral spur, twisted section, flattened lower eye and separately formed iron ring.
  • Single continuous fine braid passes through ring, behind head and down as two separate lengths.
  • Two concentric cowrie borders (smaller inner, larger outer); radiating shells forming four axes and four bead-centred flowers.
  • Hair bundles bound with fabric and sewn to reverse; each pendant braid divides into two corded terminals with loose tassel-like ends.

Decorative Features And Motifs

  • Compass-like four-arm cowrie arrangement and four smaller floral devices, with blue glass bead centres.
  • Double cowrie border and hair-framed diamond; later cowries attached along descending braids.

Condition And Alterations

  • Striped purple (?) fabric faded to grey/fawn with exposed black underlayer; hair now grey-brown.
  • Lost border cowries, one blue glass bead and unravelled terminal braid.

Motif Research And Cultural Comparisons

  • Göz refers to the eye motif and nazar boncuğu to protective eye beads; here the turquoise beads are not necessarily eye-shaped [2].
  • Four-direction and cross-like interpretations are possible visual comparisons, not secure formal motif names.

Provenance And Research Notes

  • The forged hook merits separate detail photographs.