Men's Prayer Beads, Briar Wood, 18 Beads, Skull Carving, Matching Set

Men's Prayer Beads, Briar Wood, 18 Beads, Skull Carving, Matching Set

The skull has long been worn in various cultures as a protective charm, on the idea that wearing something fearsome of one's own will frighten off evil spirits watching from outside; in China, skull motifs are still seen today hung on doors as protective talismans. This carving is worked in briar, a fine material prized for tobacco pipes and sourced from root wood grown in China -- often referred to by its "briar root" name. Its naturally beautiful grain deepens in color and character the more it is handled, and while reasonably hard, it is prized for being notably light and easy to wear. In Chinese folklore, this root wood was itself believed to ward off evil, a meaning doubled here by combining it with the protective skull motif. Each skull is carved by hand, bead by bead, giving the piece the warmth only handwork can provide.

Product Specifications

Item Number: 6410240000000
Parent Bead (Oyadama): Approx. 0.75 in (1.9 cm) – Briar Wood
Main Beads (Shudama): Approx. 0.59 in (1.5 cm), Skull Carving – Briar Wood
Top Bead (Tendama): Approx. 0.43 in (1.1 cm) – Briar Wood
Note: Currently sold out.