Pages

Thursday, September 26, 2019


Nepalese Bodhiseed or Bodhicitta mala beads
with triangular eyes.

Wednesday, June 05, 2019


Antique Turquoise & Amber

Ancient agates

Thursday, February 21, 2019


Antique natural red coral and turquoise necklace
with faceted 22k gold beads.

Tuesday, December 18, 2018








Ancient Six Eyed dZi Bead
36 mm x 12 mm



 

Ancient Three Eye dZi Bead
30.5 mm x 10 mm

Saturday, November 25, 2017






Above: The round dig or weathering on this side reveals the original colour
of the stone (greyish white). This was the colour of the agate/chalcedony
before it was treated to turn it to a more desirable black.



Ancient decorated agate bead
w/ 'railtrack' and mountain peak motif.
21 mm x 12.5 mm




A 'new' dZi bead from China (less than 5 years old) that has been purposely broken in half and polished smooth. It is clearly an attempt to look like an ancient damaged bead. What is interesting about this bead is that the decorated lines have also been framed and inlaid with silver or a silver coloured metal. It is quite an attractive effect, however, this was not a technique used to decorate dZi beads in ancient times.

Friday, July 14, 2017






A new book on 'Himalayan dZi Beads' by the Chinese author Xiaoli Zhu has just been published. It is currently only available in Chinese, however, there is a content section in English. It is packed full of beautiful images of dZi beads and there are few pages dedicated to Pumtek and Thogchags. A number of beads from our own blog have also been featured. 

ISBN 978-7-5494-1621-9

Thursday, June 29, 2017


Ancient Western Asiatic Carnelian Bead
28.5 mm




Ancient Western Asiatic decorated carnelian.
18 mm

Ancient Carnelian Lion Bead
South East Asia
17 mm x 17 mm

Monday, February 27, 2017


Losar Tashi Delek! Happy Tibetan New Year! 
February 27th - Year of the Fire Rooster

Thursday, February 23, 2017


A Tibetan or Bhutia woman circa 1920s.
The dZi beads on this necklace 
may well be glass imitations.

Wednesday, February 24, 2016




A large portion of an ancient Chong dZi
with recent 22k gold end caps.
47.5 mm x 23.5 mm

Monday, January 04, 2016


Read the latest John Vincent Bellezza article discussing 
the ancient dZi beads discovered in Spiti, India.

Thursday, November 19, 2015




Ancient Green Jasper Bead
Western Asiatic
32 mm x 30 mm



Ancient Green Jasper Bead
Western Asiatic
28 mm x 21 mm

Ancient Green Chalcedony Bead
Western Asiatic
31 mm x 20 mm


Ancient Green Jasper Bead
Western Asiatic
32 mm x 19 mm

Large Ancient Green Jasper Bead
Western Asiatic
47 mm x 27 mm


Ancient Green Chalcedony Bead
Western Asiatic
44 mm x 22 mm

Wednesday, November 18, 2015




Newly created dZi beads from Taiwan and China
from 1990s production up to the present day.

Thursday, July 23, 2015



Huge antique Tibetan silver bead with copper core
Collected in Tibet in the 1980s
47 mm x 38 mm

Monday, April 06, 2015


Above: Various ancient glass beads with eyes and stripes.
Designed to imitate naturally banded agate. 


Above: more glass beads that imitate banded agate.


Above: glass imitating banded agate.


Above: glass imitating banded agate.



Above: glass imitating banded agate.


Above: glass imitating banded agate.


Above: glass imitating banded agate


Above: glass imitating banded agate


Above: glass imitating banded agate