Evil Eye Nazar Charm.

Hang it just inside the door, where a visitor's gaze lands first. The nazar boncuğu, literally the evil-eye bead, is among the most widely recognized protective charms in the world.

This one was blown from molten glass at a wood-fired furnace near İzmir, its concentric rings of cobalt blue, white and black built up in layers while the glass was still workable. Furnace work resists uniformity: no two nazars come out quite the same size, weight or shade of blue, and the slight asymmetry is part of the charm rather than a flaw.

From the Balkans through Anatolia and across much of the Mediterranean and Middle East, nazars hang over doorways, above cradles and from rearview mirrors, and are worn as jewelry. Folklore holds that the eye catches an envious or admiring glance before it can settle on whatever it was aimed at, taking the harm on the bearer's behalf.

How to use

Hang it where a gaze naturally lands first: just inside a doorway, above a workbench, or in a window facing the street.

Details

• Blown glass nazar in cobalt blue, white and black
• Made at a wood-fired furnace near İzmir
• Each one varies in size, weight and shade
• Sold as a curiosity; no medical or scientific claims are made, only a long and widely shared folk tradition

A small blue eye for your threshold, and a very old story to go with it.