Mother of Dzi Ancient Agate Bead

• Hand-selected by our DharmaShop team, this ancient striped agate bead is a rare and meaningful artifact with centuries of history behind it. We sourced it from a Tibetan husband-and-wife artisan team from Nepal. Among their incredible selection of specialty beads, this one immediately stood out for its beauty and character.
• Estimated to be between 600-1,000 years old, this bead has traveled through India, Burma, and the Himalayas, passed from hand to hand as a treasured piece of history.
• Striped agates like this are considered the "Mother of Dzi" — the original beads Tibetans collected before the more elaborate "eye" designs emerged. Every detail and marking reflects the foundation from which the tradition of Dzi beads grew.

Ancient agates have been used throughout the ages not only for decoration, but also as protection amulets to shield the wearer from negativity or evil and promote good health.

This bead features a rich dark brown agate body with natural striping and faint eye-like inclusions. Both ends show centuries of wear, with small chunks missing and surfaces worn smooth by time. The translucent areas at the end reveal the raw beauty of true agate. These are the details that modern beads try to emulate.

This bead is pictured on an adjustable gold-filled chain but can also be strung on vegan leather cord, or on a mala necklace or bracelet using materials seen on our website. Feel free to contact us about our options!

Details:

Bead is just under 0.75" long and is ~0.5" wide.

Adjustable gold-filled necklace measures ~22" around and can be tightened as desired.