Hand-carved skull beads made from fine yak bones, a rare vintage item from Tibet

around: size 35 mm tall
25 mm round

Rare and Tibetan Fine bone hand-carved skull beads

Wonderful Tibetan Old Hand-Carved Bone Death's-head Bracelet Skull Bangle ~Rare
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Each bead is carefully carved out of yak bone. The detail is better than I've seen in similar beads of this age. They are hand-carved and hand-strung with a total of 55 beads that all measure approx. 1.00 inch each.


Historically, using skull shapes for beads and other ritual items in Tibetan Buddhism and Hinduism is common practice. In the old Tibet of the past, yogis and practitioners used real bones from throwaway animals such as yaks, as it was a more accessible resource. Bones and skull shapes are thought to be helpful visual aids for contemplating and meditating on death and impermanence.
The skull represents the fact that death is inevitable and that the more we can accept and relate to it, the sooner we can begin to live a life of love and compassion and understand that death will arrive when it is time. So, live life and embrace death.. Acceptance is key to the inevitable passing of time and body.