Two banded agate tabular eye beads from the 1990s. Both beads came out of Asia but the agate reminds me of material from Botswana, Africa. length 30 mm width 24 mm depth 11 mm

A new bow shaped dZi which was found in Mandi, North India (2007). Both the shape and stylised eyes are not often seen on new beads. 38 mm x 13 mm

A huge silver amulet with antique coral, amber, silver, and ancient agates.

Reinhold Messner is seen here wearing a two eyed dZi bead flanked with red coral. This is the typical way a man would wear a dZi bead in the Himalayan regions. Messner says he obtained his bead in Tingri in 1981 and it always fascinates the Sherpas and Tibetans when they see him wearing it. He is regarded by some as the greatest mountain climber of all time. In the 1970s he was the first to reach the summit of Everest without bottled oxygen. Following that he was the first to achieve a solo Everest climb. In 2004 he completed a 2000 kilometer expedition through the Gobi desert. The list goes on!

A stunning ancient bicone jasper disc bead. 46.77 mm (diameter) x 14.62 (depth). It always amazes me how jasper is often overlooked in favour of banded agate beads. Jasper is an opaque form of chalcedony and the name is likely to have originated from the Persian word "yašp". Jasper is certainly amongst the most colourful materials used in antiquity. According to the second book of the Hebrew bible (Exodus), it was also used in the breastplate of Jewish high priests. This bead was supposedly found in the Western Sahara desert and was possibly a spindle whorl.

A newly created bow shaped agate bead. Sourced in Nepal 37.59 mm x 15 mm

A newly created bow shaped agate bead. They are also
known as leech, wedge or 'cattle horn' beads.

Sourced in Nepal.
35 mm x 15 mm

Ancient agate bead 30 mm x 28 mm

Ancient agate bead 30 mm x 28 mm