Tibetan dZi and other Himalayan Beads

Here we have antique silver counters from east Tibet. They have been inlaid with coral and turquoise. Counters are used to keep track of large numbers of mantra recitations or prayers. They are traditionally strung on 108 bead malas. I have also noticed that some Tibetan traders also use them as a calculator. For this purpose they are simply worn around the neck on a piece of cord for easy access.