SIMPLY DAZZLING ......

...to hold and behold


Here is a treasured necklace, composed of 16 old rock crystal beads and one quartz elephant bead. The crystal  beads remind me of ice while the quaint elephant has a touch of the evergreen.



Crystal on the rocks

 

These faceted rock crystals have weathered well through the centuries, retaining a genteel sparkle. The perforations drilled from both sides can be clearly seen through the translucent crystal.

translucent and brilliant



crystals close up

The centrepiece of the necklace is a quartz elephant from Myanmar's Pyu Dynasty 167-1044 AD.  It is zoomorphic in appearance and such elephants can be found in Pyu's repertoire of stone carvings. This one has been damaged and repaired. A close up of the elephant showing its repaired head and parts of the body can be seen below

Quartz elephant from Pyu dynasty

The crystal beads were sold as Yuan dynasty (1279-1368) by a China dealer but its hard to determine the exact vintage. Meanwhile it's still a lovely strand to hold and behold.



...to hold and behold...

 

BEADS OR PEBBLES ?

Are these are beads or pebbles.? Their unformed shape resembles little pebbles but they have holes drilled in them so they can be strung up as beads.  So are these Pebbly beads or beady pebbles?

Pebbly Beads or Beady Pebbles

These stones (agates) have a smooth texture with  a sprinkle of silvery  patina.

There is an hidden eye in this pebble/bead

Hidden Eye

If you look hard and deep with a loupe you can see the remains of wavy bands




Wavy Bands

Dropped Eye

The eye seemed to have dropped out from this piece revealing the quartzy interior.

Aren't  agates be they beads or pebbles just intriguing ?

BRAIDS AND BEADS

Here's a friendship braid with tiny glass beads made by my friend Q. It arrived just in time for my birthday altho Q doesn't know nor meant it as a birthday present. It was entirely fortuitous.

She has been teaching me braids but not quite succeeding. I dont know why all my friends from M & M to Q produce lovely crafts and I am the odd girl out. I dont have crafters' hands, here is a specimen of my "maiden braid." Some maiden, looks like I have a long way to go.

Here are more lovely braids done by Q

Close up of the braids

Thank you Q ! Take a bow ! You have brightened my dark days, meanwhile I must jia you! jia you! :))

A Rainbow in the Sky

My heart leaps up when I behold
A rainbow in the sky:
So was it when my life began;
So is it now I am a man;
So be it when I shall grow old,
Or let me die!
The Child is father of the Man;
And I could wish my days to be
Bound each to each by natural piety. by william wordsworth.

Thanks A. for sending me this Rainbow of Hope It is indeed a beautiful work of nature and I am glad to use it to mark new beginings and old endings to my blog. Thanks too to WW for this unforgettable verse to lighten up my quiet Musings.

Look out for more frolic with jade, manao, crystal, turquoise. glass, braids, knots, beads, hairpins, animals and other little wonders.........

2 Large Glass Beads as Flower Pots

This pair of miniature flower pots are actually extra large jatim beads (6cmx6.5cm). Jatim beads are ancient glass beads from Indonesia. Unfortunately, this pair posted here may not be authentic. I had been disappointed with them for many years but now you may say "I have grown accustomed to their appearance..." and my crystal blossoms sit rather well on them too. Crystal blossoms, curtesy of my pal M.

Green Glass Beads & White Jade Split Ring Necklace

A thing of beauty is a joy forever

Its loveliness increases

It will never pass into nothingness

but still will keep, a bower quiet for us,

and a sleep, full of sweet dreams,

and health, and quiet breathing.

I don't know what Keats had in mind when he wrote these words but this verse sure applies to my milleniums old white jade piece and my centuries old emerald green glass beads. This necklace combines my love of jade and glass beads.

The white jade in the shape of a slit ring was purchased in Southern Vietnam. I guess its vintage to be from the Sa Huynh culture of Southern Vietnam,(1000BC-200AD) and according to research, such rings were used as earrings by the natives of that long ago culture. This type of earring must have been pretty widespread in Vietnam as they have also been discovered at contemporary Dong Son(1000 BC) culture sites of Northern and Central Vietnam. Moreover they are also similar to the jade "jue" earrings already in use in neolithic China from as far back as 4500BC and this form of Chinese culture must have filtered down into Vietnam. Apologies for the long winded historical stuff. I try to depict my treasured pieces light heartedly but as this blog also serves as documentation for my collection, it has to fit in a few crusty facts too. I am intrigued by how these slit rings can fit into the earlobes of neolithic and bronze age man or is it woman ? How could it be secured ? Did these man or woman pierce their ears or were these rings simply clipped on ? What manner of garments, robes or hairstyles accompanied these ear ornaments ?? Hmm.... so many unaswered questions!! In my humble, 21st century opinion, I think such rings look better as pendants like the one conceived in my post !! (blush!)

The green glass beads on this necklace are also from Southern Vietnam but may have originated in China. These beads are young when compared to the jade ring, only at most 500-200 years ago. The emerald green beads contrast well with the lustrous white jade.