A GROUP OF NINE TIBETAN AGATE DZI AND BUDDHA EYE BEADSTibet, 19th century or earlier. Comprising six cylindrical Dzi beads of different sizes, with two, three and nine eyes, the opaque agate stones of red and brown colors. Together with three Buddha eye beads of domed circular form, the stones with brown, white, and gray stripes. 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 substance. Condition: Good condition with traces of wear and natural imperfections. One Dzi bead with cracks and some losses. Provenance: Estate of Paolo Bertuzzi. Paolo Bertuzzi (1943-2022) was an engineer and fashion stylist from Bologna, Italy. Born as the son of Enrichetta Bertuzzi, the founder of Hettabretz, one of the most important leather merchants in Italy which crafted womenswear for royals and celebrities including The Rothschild family, Audrey Hepburn, and Elizabeth Taylor. Paolo Bertuzzi later took over his mother’s business and created exclusive pieces, some of which were exhibited in the Costume Institute at Metropolitan Museum of New York. He was also an avid collector of antiques for more than 60 years. His collection includes archaic and contemporary art, focusing mainly on Asian ancient pieces. Over decades he developed close relations with galleries, museums, curators, and auction houses while shaping his collection. He edited two important books about Asian art, Goa Made - An Archaeological Discovery, about a large-scale archaeological project carried out with the Italian and Indonesian governments, and Majapahit, Masterpieces from a Forgotten Kingdom. Weight: 111.7 g Dimensions: Length 1.4 cm – 5.1 cm