Early Slumped Glass Works
These two slumped glass brooches encapsulate Blue Nazar beads, a symbol deeply rooted in Turkish culture as a talisman of protection and good fortune. Each brooch is a softly curved, translucent glass panel in which the beads are suspended, appearing to float in a luminous, watery depth.
The rich turquoise and deep blue of the Nazar beads contrast with the milky clarity of the surrounding glass, while subtle inclusions, small fragments, metallic elements, and tiny bubbles add texture and complexity. Light passes through the layered glass, magnifying the beads and casting shifting reflections, so the symbol seems to hover between visibility and concealment.
By encasing the Nazar within slumped glass, the brooches transform a familiar amulet into a contemporary artefact. The traditional symbol is preserved yet recontextualised, no longer worn directly as a bead, but held within a fragile, protective skin. The result is a quiet meditation on care, vulnerability, and endurance: an object that honours cultural memory while exploring transformation, material fragility, and the subtle, persistent power of symbolic protection.