VARIOUS ANCIENT BEADS
This page showcases a diverse range of ancient beads, each with its unique allure and history.

As illustrated in the chapter titled "Ancient Bead Production," a variety of methods, notably heat treatment, were employed to change the color or deepen the hue of the stone. Such treatments often heightened the prominence of crystalline layers or bands because the sugar or honey utilized in the process couldn't penetrate these layers. This often amplified the visibility of naturally occurring eyes and stripes, enriching the visual appeal of the beads. The selection of beads displayed below exemplifies this striking effect.

The beads in
my collection
are now for sale

Inquire
through bead ID
for price

VAB 1 - 30 * 11 mm

A rare ancient banded agate bead from the Himalayas - the play of colors in these beads is unique! Unfortunately my scanner is not able to display the full translucent shine in this bead.
Himmachal Pradesh - Ram Shehar near Nalagarh - India

VAB 2 - 30 * 10 mm

VAB 4 - 30 * 13 mm

VAB 5 - 29 * 9,5 mm

28 * 9 mm
VAB 6 - SANAT

30 * 10 mm
VAB 7 - SANAT

28 * 8,5 mm
VAB 8 - SANAT

VAB 10 - IND-CL 2 - 23 * 18 * 9 mm

VAB 11 - IND-CL 3 - 24 * 14,5 * 8 mm

VAB 13 - 11 * 7 mm

VAB 15 - a: 16,5 * 6,5 b: 14 * 6 c: 15 * 6

I love these small multicolored ancient agate beads! I have named them The Trinity of Triratna.

Lapis Lazuli seal beads from Nepal
Displayed below are some incredibly unique seal beads made of high-quality lapis lazuli. The bead to the left features a typical motif from the ancient city of Patan, the Buddhist Wind Horse. As Wikipedia explains, the Wind Horse has been used as a symbol for the human soul in the shamanistic traditions of East Asia and Central Asia. The bead to the right portrays a King conducting a religious sacrificial ritual.

VAB 17 A - 32 * 28 * 5 mm - 17 B
(17A is SOLD)

On the reverse side of these remarkable lapis lazuli seal beads from Patan, you can see a Buddhist lotus motif which dates back to the reign of the Malla Kings (pre-1768). I speculate that this motif is typical of the Sakya Newar Buddhist clan from Patan. The Wind Horse motif also points towards the Newar Buddhist culture of Patan, as the Wind Horse statues found in Patan also feature wings, much like the depiction on the bead.

Backside of the beads
Click on pictures for larger image

Windhorse from Patan

ANCIENT JASPER BEADS

VAB 18 - 26 * 17 mm
Click on picture for larger image

Ancient red jasper bead with crystal banding
Displayed above you can enjoy the color play in a wonderful deep red ancient jasper bead with two crystalline bands.

Ancient Jasper disk beads

VABJ 19 - average size 7* 2 mm

VABJ 20 - left : cornerless cube 10,5 * 10,5 mm

Ancient Green Jasper Beads

VABJ 21 - Largest piece: 16 * 10mm - Smallest piece: 10 * 5 mm
Period: From Indus Valley Culture 3000-1500 BC to 1000 AD

VABJ 22 - Click on picture for larger image

In this little collection of polygonal green jasper beads we find
quadrilateral, pentagon, hexagon and corner less cube forms.

The ancient tabular agate beads displayed below are from Haryana, India.

Large round tabular beads

VAB 23 - 28 * 6 mm 23 * 5 mm

VAB 24 - 25 * 6 mm
Caramel jasper Bead

WHITE BELLY BEADS

VABBELLY 1 - Bead in the button: 19 * 11 mm

These white belly beads are from the late Indus period.

FRACTAL BEADS

FRB 1 - 53 * 39,5 * 12 mm - I call this bead Africa

The patterns in the above and below bead are fractal. The same is true for landscapes and continents. With a little imagination I can see Africa or South America in the central motif in both beads. In the left eye formation I see a person with crossed legs in Meditation. My conclusion on a meta level: I am a fractal. It takes a fractal to know one.

FRB 2 - 38 * 15 mm - I call this bead The Fractality of Me

AN ANCIENT ENGRAVED MESSAGE

VAB-ENGR - 39 * 20 * 9 mm - I call this bead The Cheetah

I have chosen to display the above bead because there is an animal engraved in the bead. This is very very rare. I have only seen one other Indus bead with an engrave. It displays a bull motif and belongs to Mr. Tira in Bangkok. You can see it here:

The animal shown on RB 8 cannot be identified with certainty. However due to its long tail it resembles a predator, in which case it most probably would be be a cheetah.

Terra cotta - Quetta, Pakistan

The cheetah can as the only member of the family
of the big cats, be tamed. Note the rope around
the neck of the cheetah. The Indus people used
domesticated cheetahs for the purpose of hunting.

Ancient Jet Stone Beads

VAB 25 - 26 * 16 mm (big piece)
Jet Stone Beads
Period: Indus Culture 3000 - 1500 BC
Origin: Afghanistan

Ancient Torquoise Beads

VAB 26 - Top left: 19 * 8 mm
Click on picture for larger image

7 * 6 mm - SOLD

Old Turquoise Beads

VAB 27 - 19 * 16 * 12 mm
Old but not ancient Turquoise beads from Morocco
Click on picture for larger image

VAB 28 - 33 * 26 * 8 mm
Very old turquoise from Nepal

VAB 29 - 17 * 14 mm
Unknown origin

The striking lapis lazuli pendant bead showcased below is not ancient in the strictest sense, but carries a significant historical lineage, dating back approximately 3-400 years. The pendant is shaped in a style made famous during the 16th century by the legendary Mughal Emperor Akbar, who issued coins in this distinctive form.

Over the years, this unique shape has become synonymous with Akbar's prestigious rule, embodying the majesty and grandeur of his reign. Emperor Akbar, along with the Buddhist King Ashoka, is considered one of the greatest monarchs in the annals of Indian history.

This lapis lazuli pendant, despite its relative youth compared to other ancient beads, is a testament to the rich cultural and historical legacy of India. Crafted from the vivid blue mineral, lapis lazuli, a stone long revered for its intense color and associated with royalty and wisdom, the bead serves as a beautiful homage to the epoch of Emperor Akbar, capturing a slice of the Mughal era's aesthetic charm.

The Akbar bead

VABT 30 - 37 * 27 * 3 mm

Ancient Lapis Lazuli beads
Most of the beads displayed here are from Afghanistan.

VABT 31
Click on picture for larger image

VABT 32 - 20 * 6 mm (Afg 46)
A rare double ax bead in lapis lazuli

VABT 33 - 30 * 14 * 10 mm
Convex Bicone shaped bead

Eastern Asian Beads
The fascinating long, slender beads showcased below captivate the viewer with their unique form and striking material. Crafted from vibrant agate, these beads hail from the regions of Eastern Asia, hinting at a rich cultural heritage woven into their sleek contours.

While their elongated form bears a resemblance to the long carnelian beads from the Indus Valley Civilization, it's likely that these particular beads don't share the same antiquity. They present a distinct shape, differentiating them from their Indus Valley counterparts and hinting at an independent tradition of bead-making.

Often attributed to the Dong Son culture of Vietnam, it is important to note that their origins might span a larger geographic expanse. Considering the vast intercultural exchanges along ancient trade routes, it's plausible that these beads could have been crafted in regions beyond Vietnam, possibly even in India, intended for export.

VAB -DS 1 - 83 * 12 * 8 mm
Click on pictures for larger images

Not for sale

This striking 82 mm long bead possesses an enchanting translucency that captivates the viewer. The bead glistens with an ethereal glow, adding an aura of awe to its presence. Further enhancing its charm is the enchanting patina gained from its excavation, bearing witness to its ancient past and journeys through time.

Interestingly, this bead was possibly not intended for everyday use. Rather, it could have been reserved for special religious ceremonies, with a funeral serving as the pinnacle event. One could speculate that a bead of such exquisite beauty was designed to make an impression on the gods greeting you in the afterlife. Indeed, this resplendent bead might be perceived as a divine gift in itself.

A notable feature of the bead is how its design takes into account the human form. Its shape has been thoughtfully crafted to accommodate the curves of the body. One side of the bead has been polished into a flattened arch shape, allowing it to rest comfortably against the wearer's body.

Given its translucent nature, a photograph has been included to reveal a section of its drilled hole. This view emphasizes the uniquely organic nature of the hole's formation.

VAB-DS 2 - 58 * 9 mm

VAB-DS 3 - 55 * 10 mm

VAB-DS 4 - 51 * 9 mm - SOLD TO HERVE

VAB-DS 5 - 46 * 8 mm - SOLD

VAB-DS 6 - 44 * 10 mm - Sold

VAB-DS 7 - 40 * 11 mm

VAB-DS 8 - 38 * 9 mm - Sold

VAB-DS 9 - 35 * 10 mm

VAB-DS 10 - 34 * 9 mm

VAB-DS 11 - 33 * 9 mm - SOLD TO HERVE

VAB-DS 12 - 33 * 10 mm

VAB-DS 13 - 33 * 8 mm

VAB-DS 14 - 31 * 13 mm

VAB-DS 15 - 31 * 13 mm

VAB-DS 16 - 27 * 11 mm

VAB-DS 17 - 26 * 8 mm

KALINGA HEIRLOOM BEADS FROM THE PHILIPINES

VAB 34 -

Kalinga Heirloom Beads: A Historic Tapestry
This multi-strand necklace, adorned with heirloom beads, unfolds like a vivid history book, traversing epochs and cultures. It begins its narrative with ancient Indian agate and onyx beads and concludes its tale with 19th-century European glass beads. The notable large much older white rectangular beads, likely crafted from tridacna clam shells, add a unique touch to the composition.

This necklace bears the marks of time, revealing significant wear and tear from generations of use. Upon marriage, Kalinga women inherit these precious beads and proudly wear them as a daily symbol of their lineage and culture. The Kalingas uphold a matriarchal society, with each mother passing down her cherished strand to her eldest daughter. In wealthier families, younger daughters also receive their own heirloom strands.

This heirloom necklace, therefore, becomes a living testament to the lineage of the family, weaving together generations across a timespan of more than a thousand years. It is a tangible embodiment of the family's legacy, continuously evolving and aging, much like the family it represents. Each bead thus narrates a fragment of the family's history, creating a diverse and rich tapestry of their collective journey.

ANCIENT CONCH SHELL BEADS
These are not Nagaland conch shell beads. They were found in Uttar Pradesh. On VABC 35 you can still see the coloring in both ends where the gold cabs have been sitting.

VABC 35 - 112 * 25 mm

VABC 36 - 61 * 24 mm

VABC 37 - 68 * 27 mm

Ancient Spindle Whorls: Tools of Yesteryears
A spindle whorl , a distinct object of the past, is a disc-shaped implement that was fitted onto a spindle to enhance and sustain its spinning speed. The primary purpose of this object was to provide momentum to the spinning process, a critical step in thread and yarn production, which were fundamental materials in weaving and textile manufacturing.

The spindle whorls featured below originated from ancient Persia, dating back to approximately 1000 BC. During this era, textiles played a central role in Persia, both in domestic life and trade, leading to the widespread use of spindle whorls. These objects offer valuable insights into the early development of textile production techniques and the roles these practices played in shaping societal structures.

Carved from stone, clay, or other locally available materials, these spindle whorls are more than just simple tools. They were often ornately decorated and demonstrate a high level of craftsmanship, indicating the importance of textile production in the society of the time. Today, these artifacts serve as tangible links to our past, allowing us a glimpse into the everyday lives of our ancestors and their cultural and economic pursuits.

SPND 1 - 19 * 21 mm
SPND 2	SPND 3 - 17 * 7 mm
SPND 4 - 23 * 15 mm	SPND 5 - 19 * 14 mm
SPND 6 - 5,5 * 8 mm	SPND 7 - 14 * 11 mm
SPND 8 - 13,5 * 11,5 mm	SPND 9 - 14,5 * 6,5 mm
SPND 9 - 19 * 9,5 mm	SPND 10 - 17,5 * 10,5 mm
SPND 11 - 14 * 11 mm	SPND 12 - 14 * 11 mm
SPND 13 - 14 * 11,5 mm	SPND 14 - 13 * 12 mm
SPND 15 - 17 * 10 mm	SPND 16 - 16,5 * 10 mm
SPND 17 - 16 * 13 mm	SPND 18 - 13,5 * 7,5 mm
SPND 19 - 14 * 11,5 mm	SPND 20 - 15 * 9 mm
SPND 21 - 18 * 8,5 mm	SPND 22 - 16 * 8,5 mm
SPND 23 - 19 * 12 mm	SPND 24 - 17 * 11 mm