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Tuesday, September 30, 2008


Ancient agate eye bead (center) flanked by ancient round decorated agatesfrom Burma.

Ancient decorated carnelian with cross and dot design (centre). The vast majority of these beads contain 3 dots in each square zone. There are normally 24 dots in total. Sourced in Nepal.

Friday, September 26, 2008


Mixed selection of ancient decorated beads (sourced in Nepal).

Round ancient agate eye bead (sourced in Northern India).

Ancient agate bead (Sourced in Nepal).

Ancient Three Eyed dZi.

Ancient Chung dZi (sourced in Nepal).

Wednesday, September 24, 2008


Tibetan man wearing his mala (probably Bodhiseed) and a necklace 
of chank or conch shell beads.  
early 20th century

Tibetan Chodpa (left). Notice his human thigh bone trumpet (Tibetan: Kangling) tied to his waist. early 20th Century

Tibetan Men (1930s). Both are seen wearing necklaces with dZi.

Tibetan woman (1920s)

Monday, September 22, 2008


New dZi beads with Ancient agates and Pumtek

Ancient agate bead (Nepal).

Seen above are newly created decorated carnelian beads 
from Taiwan (sourced in 2004 in Nepal).


Newly applied decoration on a very old carnelian bead.

Wednesday, September 17, 2008


Newly created Taiwanese dZi. The huge three eyed bead at the 
top measures 106.50 mm x 25.49 mm and was sourced in Nepal.

Tuesday, September 16, 2008


Antique red coral is prized in the Himalayan regions.

Wednesday, September 10, 2008


A very old piece of Tibetan turquoise. It has two perforations and was probably worn as a hair ornament. There are a number of possible sources for turquoise which include Eastern Tibet and also Honan in China (Clarke 2004). 34.67 mm x 24.58 mm

Monday, September 08, 2008


Three Eyed New Pumtek 37.42 mm x 11.08

Two Eyed New Pumtek 30.59 mm x 9.10 mm
Two Eyed New Pumtek 41.96 mm x 12.78 mm

The four images above show recently made fossilised wood beads from Burma.
They copy decorations found on ancient dZi beads but would not be regarded as
dZi. Makers of contemporary Pumtek are decorating beads with designs and
motifs unlikely to have been seen on much older Pumteks.

Friday, September 05, 2008


Ancient agate bead with natural crystalline eye. 25.47 mm x 16.32 mm

Mixed necklace of ancient and antique beads. Most of 
them sourced in Nepal (including the early Pumtek). 
length approx 25 inches

Ancient agate eye bead 27.47 mm x 15.38 mm

Ancient Agate Bead (Nepal) 34.68 mm x 13.54 mm



Ancient Luk Mik dZi 22.81 mm diameter

Wednesday, September 03, 2008


Old silver Ghanta (bell) & Vajra mala counters. The Vajra (on the left) is the quintessential symbol of Vajrayana Buddhism. When these two symbols are united they represent wisdom (female) and compassion (male). These particular beads are a device primarily used to keep count of mantra recitation and would be strung on a mala (rosary).

Ancient two eyed dZi bead.

Tibetan women (1920s)

Tuesday, September 02, 2008


Ancient Luk Mik dZi or tabular agate eye bead.