6714

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    Rare Tibetan Rosary of Human Bone Beads (Mi Mgo’i Phreng Ba)

    Tibet
    19th century

    length: approximately 60cm, weight: 99g

    Sold

    Provenance

    private collection, London, UK.

    – scroll down to see further images –

    This Buddhist rosary (sin-‘phen) is unusual.  It is composed of human bone beads. Tibetan rosary beads composed of human bone are rare and are known as Mi Mgo’i Phreng Ba. They are used for wrathful-deity rituals (Henss, 2020, p. 152.) Each bead has been etched with cross and circle motifs.

    The example here has superb patina from age and wear.

    The central marker bead comprises a halved agate dzi bead.

    Buddhist rosaries evolved from ancient Hindu-Indian mala prayer beads. In Tibet, they were used by both laymen and monks. They are supposed to comprise 108 beads plus others as counters, although sectarian variants might have as many as 111 beads plus counters and as few as 100. The main prayer beads were used to count repetitions of prayers and the counters were used to record multiples of the main beads, so that thousands of repetitions could be counted. Users typically held them in their left hands whilst chanting.

    The set here is in a fine, stable condition.

    It has come from an old, private London collection acquired over decades.

    References

    Daalder, T., Ethnic Jewellery and Adornment: Australia, Oceania, Asia, Africa, Ethnic Art Press/Macmillan, 2009.

    Henss, M., Buddhist Ritual Art of Tibet: A Handbook on Ceremonial Objects and Ritual Furnishings in the Tibetan Temple, Arnoldsche, 2020.

    Reynolds, V., Tibet: A Lost World: The Newark Museum Collection of Tibetan Art and Ethnology, The American Federation of Arts, 1978.

    Sherr Dubin, L., The Worldwide History of Beads, Thames & Hudson, 2009.

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