Himalayan Artistry – Tibet
Here we have two beautiful conch beads with a brass strap band with inlaid turquoise and coral.
The beads are regarded as tribal and ethnic and have been hand-crafted by the nomadic people from Tibet and Nepal – a group native to the high altitude regions of the Himalayas.
The conch shell – which essentially is petrified seashell that has been formed over time, is extracted from high in the Himalayas – deposited millions of years ago when seas levels were at that point, and turned into incredible works of art – including beads.
Loosely translated, conch is a tropical mollusc with a large spiral shell which can be blown like a trumpet to produce a hollow-sounding note. In the ancient Greek and Roman era, the conch was played by Tritons who were regarded as merman’s – half human (upper) and half fish (lower).
There’s no doubt they can be used to create amazing ethnic-inspired statement jewellery items such as necklaces, bracelets or an ankle bangle.
These highly sought-after beads would make a wonderful addition to your jewellery-making box of special beads.
The beads provide lots of potential for creativity for those artisans with a bent for creating amazing Tibetan-inspired ethnic style or statement jewellery.
The beads are often used as currency when trading for goods.
These two beads weigh in at about 18 grams - have been heavily discounted and now work out to cost $11.00 each.
All our Tibetan beads contain a decent 2-3mm top-drill hole which is suitable for threading with round leather, tigertail or craftline (similar to fishing line).
The accompanying photos illustrate what to expect in your order. But please be mindful that from time to time there may be some minor variations depending on availability.
Please also bear in mind many of these beads are not new, nor have they been mass produced. They are handmade, contain imperfections and many are aged-worn.