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Evil Eye - First recorded by the Mesopotamians about 5,000 years ago in cuneiform on clay tablets, the Evil Eye may actually have originated as early as the Upper Paleolithic age
We find this figure in Jewish, Christian and Muslim cultures as well as Buddhist and Hindu societies. This common tradition finds a new identity in the 3000 years old glass craftsmanship of Anatolia. A glass master combines the power the eye figure with the power of the fire and creates a new talisman:
Nazar Boncugu / The Evil Eye Bead
Since then the people have been attaching this bead to everything they wished to protect from evil eyes. From the new-born babies to their horses or even to the doors of their homes...
This tradition still lives in Anatolia. The glimmering evil eye beads that are hand made with ancient methods by a very few glass masters, are distributed from Anatolia to the whole world.
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The furnace is burnt with pine woods early in the morning.
There is liquid glass that has taken the colour of the fire.
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RASIM ALTMISKARA / Evil Eye Bead Master |
- "The technique we use for bead making is primitive. It's totally hand made. We use a thick and a thin iron rod. We roll the base of the bead on the thick rod. This is the base. We add the white and the blue of the eyes with the thin rod. Just these two rods are our tools. There is this yellow eye on our beads. We make the oxide of this yellow from a mixture of zinc, metal and lead. I wonder if any chemist can make the same colour. It's one of our secrets. "
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OSMAN SAGLAM / Evil Eye Bead Master |
- "When I was at the age of primary school, my brothers were practising this art. After the school, I used to help them. Feeding the fire, bringing them whatever they need... I worked as an apprentice for 2 or 3 years. Then I started to make my own beads. And I still continue...60 years ago there were 7 or 8 furnaces. Now there are only three. Young generations do not want to learn it...I do not know what will happen after we pass away. Nobody is learning this art. I'll have to give up very soon. I'm getting older. Both of my eyes had surgical operation. I have to give up. How long can I continue? Six months, a year, and then it will be over for me.."
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The evil eye bead masters, with their eyes focused on the glass work |
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HAGOP CAN HULYAR / Goldsmith |
- "All I do is based on the eye beads. All my jewellery has eye beads. I use different sizes of beads. I believe that eye beads are protective items and that's why I began to use them in my jewels. When the bead cracks, they say that "It cracked because it took over the evil that would harm you." It's what we believe.."
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MURAT KAYAN / Evil Eye Bead Master |
- "It is also believed that the people with coloured eyes have the power of so called evil look. Some time ago a young lady with blue eyes came and wanted to buy a certain bead hanging over there. Even before I could touch the bead, it was broken into pieces. It even cut my hand. I couldn't forget it. Later the lady made a joke, saying "I guess I'd better leave before I cause more damage to you and your beads..."
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Prof.Dr. NUSRET KAYA / Psychiatrist |
- " We find the eye figure in the 5000 year old ancient Egyptian culture. The symbol of Goddess Osiris is an eye...The subconscious system makes contacts with the eyes. That is, the neurotic energy from subconscious, a powerful neurotic energy effects the subconscious of the other people...And since excessive neurotic is contagious energy, an irritating, disturbing energy, it can cause sickness. "
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