"Crinoid stem beads were amongst the more common animals found in the sea floor communities of the Paleozoic era about 543 to 248 million years ago" Description taken from Bead data base with thanks. I suppose a layman like me would call them fossil beads from the remains of sea animals millions of years ago. My strand came from Cambodia and was a gift from Hans. Grey in color and barrel shaped they have a natural hole in the middle for stringing and the outer surface has natural ribbed decorations. They are rather sandy with mineral encrustations, and after 2 years, I am still mulling over how best to use them in my works.
This set of small white yu pian (flat jade pieces) probably date back to the Ming period. Very delicately carved and pierced, some pieces still retain a bright luster. The set is made up of flower vases, ruyi, petal, lion, bamboo and a basket. Don't know what the original uses were. Could have been used as inlays for boxes, cupboards and the like.