The historical studies of glass and glass work show that the source of glass production is the Mediterranean region and its surroundings. Firstly, the Egyptians tinted the glass, which has gone through many stages in time, and created many areas of use from jewelery to coffin making. European countries also learned glass processing from Egypt. On the other hand, glass workmanship can be seen in Turks since Seljuk period. After the conquest of Istanbul, this city became the center of glass production and glass craftsmanship developed day by day.
The use of glass in bead design for the first time in Anatolia started with the craftsmen who came to Izmir from Egypt to make anklets and bead bracelets at the Arap Han in Kemeraltı. The Turks, who learned from these masters, developed the bead production with the mule bead design according to their own needs. With the emergence of colored glasses, the eye began to be placed on the bead in order to protect people from the evil eye.
In İzmir, Menderes district, Görece village and Kemalpaşa district, Nazarköy village continue to produce with traditional methods. The village, which was named Kurudere due to its location on the creek bed, was named Nazarköy with the approval of the Council of Ministers dated 20.03.2007, because the production of evil eye beads continues intensively in this village.
Generally, round or oval shaped bead kilns are made by skilled craftsmen in the village. Glasses of different colors are melted on the shelves called “pans” where only pine wood is burned. The molten glass is taken from these chambers by means of iron rods and shaped on the rail iron.
The types of beads produced today are called karagöz, walnut, cylinder, egg, plate, plate heart, dice, saddlery, danagöz. Bead types are named according to the colors used. Beads are also named according to their size as large, medium and small. In addition, materials such as rings, jugs, fish figures, ashtrays are also produced.
The evil eye bead design, which has become one of the symbols of Izmir and is called "plate" by the manufacturers, has been highly appreciated by our people, and this design has been featured in different areas.