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.

Map of the Himalayan regions.

Ancient banded agate with natural eye.

A damaged ancient quadruple Sakor Namkor. Two eyes remain on this portion. It displays wonderful end wear from being strung and worn with other beads.

Tibetan woman (1920s) wearing a mala and a necklace of dZi and coral. We can see that this necklace includes at least two damaged dZi. One of many early photographs that dispels the myth that dZi are discarded by Tibetans when chipped or broken. Damaged dZi continue to be worn and valued despite breakages, however, broken beads are generally considered to be less potent than complete beads.

Huge antique coral bead with a diameter of 30.11 mm.
The ancient banded agate bead on the left has a diameter of 11 mm.

Ancient tabular eye beads. diameter 9 mm depth 7 mm

Ancient round longevity dZi (look like soccer balls) and very small ancient Bhaisajyaguru. Longevity dZi approx 9 mm Bhaisajyaguru approx 5 mm

Ancient carnelian beads (sourced in Nepal).

Ancient carnelian beads (Sourced in Nepal).

Bone skull beads (Nepal). 18.21 mm x 13.88 mm

A necklace of new Taiwanese dZi strung with antique turquoise and coral. 

(All beads sourced in Nepal over a 10 year period).