AN AGATE ‘DZI’ BEAD Tibet, presumably 19th century. Cylindrical bead made from agate and decorated with “8 eyes” motif. Dzi beads are considered to provide positive spiritual benefit. They are mostly worn as protective amulets, sometimes ground into a powder to be used in traditional Tibetan medicine. Artisans who made the dzi embellished the beads lines and shapes using ancient methods such as darkening with plant sugars and heat, bleaching and white line etching with natron and protecting certain areas with grease, clay, wax or a similar substances.

Condition: Good condition with some notches and minor weathering commensurate with age.
Provenance: Hungarian private collection, according to the current owner acquired in 1990.Weight: 17.9 g

Dimensions: Height 5.8 cm