Gallery

Comments

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  Joost Daalder June 25, 2011 at 4:21am

  Appealing, Kathleen. Uzbekistan, I presume?
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  Kathleen Peirce June 25, 2011 at 8:32am

  Thanks, Joost! It was sold as " an evil eye pendant hung above the door in some Afghan homes". those are bells at the bottom ends.
  It doesn't look to me like other "evil eye" pieces I've seen.
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  Joost Daalder June 25, 2011 at 8:50am

  Actually the description seems plausibly accurate, except that I don't think that the piece comes from Afghanistan, but from Uzbekistan, especially because of the multitude of pieces of turquoise (or ceramic material) which, all of them, almost certainly DO represent "the evil eye". The crescent shape also looks Uzbeki to me. In these communities in Central Asia, the evil eye was that of blue-eyed foreigners, so that one can safely assume that any blue stone (in preference to, especially, red) does represent the evil eye, and is used to confront any evil-eyed person who comes near (on the principle that like frightens like). The piece is thus - certainly, I feel - a protective amulet, and it is likely enough that it would have protected the house, although it could also have been worn as a pendant by an individual woman. The red stone in the centre is almost certainly a carnelian, and is viewed positively in this way of looking at the world. An interesting piece!
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  Kathleen Peirce June 25, 2011 at 9:32am

  Thanks so much, Joost! The carnelian in this piece is especially bright, more so than the photograph suggests. That, ant the shape of the piece is what drew me to it. Isn't it interesting how certain shapes appeal while others have little to "say"?
  P.s. I looked on Amazon at your wife's book, a treasure full of treasures to be sure. The two of you must have some wonderful conversations.
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  Joost Daalder June 25, 2011 at 9:48am

  Yes, I agree, certain shapes (and colour combinations) are good while others aren't. This is a matter of our being "wired" to approve of certain proportions etc which are found in nature as well as art, and to dislike others. You are right: Truus and I talk about jewellery (both ethnic and contemporary) an awful lot, and that is a very positive factor in our marriage. We have both been interested since about age eight or so. We love paintings etc as well - not just jewellery, but the visual arts dominate much of our life. I do like your amulet - a very nice piece.