Traditional Glass Bead Production in Izmir's Nazarkoy Village
Traditional glass bead production, which has been ongoing since the 1950s in Nazarkoy, Kemalpasa, Izmir, is under threat due to a decreasing number of masters.
In the settlement in Izmir's Kemalpasa district, formerly known as Kurudere and renamed Nazarkoy in 2007, the production of evil eye beads using traditional methods since the 1950s is facing the risk of disappearing due to a declining number of masters and mass production.
The Transformation Process from Kurudere to Nazarkoy
Located about 5 kilometers from the center of the Kemalpasa district and named Kurudere because it was established in a stream bed, the settlement became identified with the production of evil eye beads. The village's name was officially changed to Nazarkoy following approval dated March 20, 2007.
Production Methods in Traditional Furnaces
Glass bead production in Nazarkoy has been maintained since around 1950. Masters shape glass in front of high-temperature furnaces fueled by pine wood, producing various types of beads such as black-eyed, walnut, cylindrical, egg, and calf-eyed beads.
Dangers Faced by the Craft
In the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Council's February 2026 minutes, it was stated that traditional evil eye bead production faces the threat of extinction due to a decrease in the number of masters, young people moving away from the profession, and the proliferation of mass-produced goods.