On a quiet corner in one of the most beautiful streets of the historical Peninsula in Istanbul rests an elegant store inside a tranquil garden.
The store rests close to the end of the Soğuk Çeşme Street going towards the tramline in Sultanahmet, just next to the walls of Topkapı Palace
The name of the store is Kalsedon which is dedicated to a special stone from Anatolia, Chalcedony. Chalcedony has been used in Anatolia since Neolithic times, both as a tool material and for ornamental purposes.
Natural form of the Chalcedony
The Hittites, Phrygians, and later civilizations carved chalcedony into beads, amulets, seals, and jewelry and it was often associated with protection, luck, and healing properties. Ancient texts describe chalcedony amulets being used to ward off evil spirits.
The name chalcedony (sometimes spelled “calcedony” in older texts) comes from the Latin word chalcedonius, which in turn likely derives from the Ancient Greek. The Greek term referred to the town of Chalcedon, which is current Kadıköy, one of my most favourite neighbourhoods in Istanbul. Historically, chalcedony was associated with that region because it was traded through its port.
Ferries approaching Kadıköy, ancient Chalcedon which the ancient Greeks called ‘the land of the blind’ because of having missed the beauty on the other side and settled here
The store offers a wide range of jewelry along with beautiful objects made of this special stone. The owner is a wonderful lady, a lawyer by training who has dedicated herself to promoting the value of this Anatolian stone and is active in every stage of production from the excavation of the stone to the design of the jewelry.
Have a glimpse at the store
So when you visit Sultanahmet, make sure to visit this elegant store inside a tranquil garden overlooking Haghia Sophia!
visit the online store at https://kalsedon.com.tr/.
