A damaged ancient dZi bead. Sourced in Nepal from someone who said they dug it up on their land. Pure dZi are rarely seen so fat. Three complete eyes still remain on this bead but it is unclear how many eyes this bead once had. The stylised eye above appears to have horns, and the decoration can be seen to penetrate at least 1 mm. If this bead was whole it would have been as much as 80 mm in length. size 31.55 mm x 19.58 mm.

Huge agate amulet sourced from Thailand (length 74.29 mm x 31.27 mm).

Ancient blue chalcedony beads (Afghanistan).

Large ancient carnelian bead (20.33 mm diameter).

Ancient round tabular agate. (Width at widest point 27.06 mm, depth 14.87 mm)

A Tibetan Chod practitioner (early 20th century). It is traditional to wear
your mala wrapped around your 'left' wrist when not in use.

A newly created three eyed dZi from Taiwan (32.16 mm x 11.38 mm)

...

Above: A newly created dZi bead from Taiwan with red blood spots or 'Martik' in the Tibetan language. Blood spots (iron inclusions) are often looked for by Tibetans, as a criteria to help identify ancient dZi. However, the majority of ancient dZi do not display them. Tibetans believe that the appearance of these tiny red spots is an auspicious sign. And that the more you wear the bead, the more likely these spots will 'grow'. A great many ancient dZi beads will display blood spots, but it is also clear that Taiwanese bead makers are able to replicate this. Blood spots or 'cinnibar' (a term used by Taiwanese dealers and collectors) are not a reliable indication that a bead is ancient. New beads that display blood spots will carry a higher premium than those that don't. Particularly beads that clearly show 'red' spots (as seen above) and not the more common 'brown' inclusions that are often seen on new Taiwanese dZi (see below).

Above is a new dZi displaying the Lotus and Vase decoration. The vase (Bumpa) is used in Tibetan ritual to confer empowerment. It is also possible that this symbol is a stupa or chorten. The stupa represents the enlightened mind of a Buddha.

Ancient agate bead (sourced in Nepal). 29.71 mm x 16.51 mm

Ancient banded agate bead (sourced in Nepal).

Ancient banded agates (largest 16.70 mm). Also known as Bhaisajyaguru, Suleimani and Solomon beads.

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.

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).

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)

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.

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.

Antique red coral is prized in the Himalayan regions.

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

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.

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

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)

Ancient Luk Mik dZi or tabular agate eye bead.