Bead - India - Ancient banded agate
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Selected by Surya Rutten
Has over 25 years' experience in Asian art and owned an art gallery.
Estimate € 250 - € 300
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Ancient Indo-Tibetan banded agate bead with bold white chevron banding on a dark body; a single drilled loose bead of Indian origin, circa 500 BCE–1000 CE, size 23.5 × 12.3 mm, in good condition with minor aging wear and a small old loss at one end.
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Description from the seller
ANCIENT INDO-TIBETAN BANDED AGATE BEAD — Natural Chevron Pattern
A genuine ancient banded agate bead of the type traded across the Himalayan belt — known in the trade as Indo-Tibetan or Himalayan banded agate. Bold, natural zigzag chevron banding runs the length of the bead in crisp white against a dark body, formed entirely by the stone's own natural growth layers.
PLEASE NOTE — THIS IS A SINGLE LOOSE BEAD
As shown, this is one individual ancient bead, sold loose and unmounted, exactly as it survives today. A striking focal piece — ideal as a pendant, threaded as the centerpiece of a necklace with other ancient beads, or kept as a standalone collector's piece.
THE DETAILS THAT MATTER
Beads of this type are dated broadly to the ancient trade-bead era, circa 500 BCE – 1000 CE, and are found across the Himalayan belt — India, Tibet, Nepal, China, Pakistan, and Afghanistan — carried along ancient trade and pilgrimage routes through Central and Western Asia. As shown in the photos, there is a small old loss at one end of the bead, where a sliver of the outer banding has broken away over its long history — this is a genuine sign of age and use, not a modern flaw, and does not affect the bead's structure or its ability to be strung. The deep, hand-polished sheen across the rest of the bead is consistent with age and handling.
MATERIAL & LOOK
Natural banded agate with bold chevron/zigzag patterning in white against a dark body. The bead measures 23.5 x 12.3 mm.
WHY COLLECTORS SEEK OUT THIS BEAD
Indo-Tibetan banded agate beads with strong, well-defined chevron patterning are sought after by collectors of ancient Himalayan trade beads, Buddhist mala components, and natural banded agate formations — prized for the graphic, geometric quality of their natural banding.
SPECIFICATIONS
• Material: natural banded agate with natural chevron formation (Indo-Tibetan / Himalayan type)
• Feature: bold natural zigzag chevron banding
• Period: circa 500 BCE – 1000 CE
• Region: Indo-Tibetan / Himalayan belt (India, Tibet, Nepal, China, Pakistan, Afghanistan)
• Size: 23.5 x 12.3 mm
• Format: single loose bead, drilled, ready to string
• Condition: ancient, genuine wear and polish consistent with age; small old loss at one end (see photos)
This item will be shipped with trackable registered mail.
ANCIENT INDO-TIBETAN BANDED AGATE BEAD — Natural Chevron Pattern
A genuine ancient banded agate bead of the type traded across the Himalayan belt — known in the trade as Indo-Tibetan or Himalayan banded agate. Bold, natural zigzag chevron banding runs the length of the bead in crisp white against a dark body, formed entirely by the stone's own natural growth layers.
PLEASE NOTE — THIS IS A SINGLE LOOSE BEAD
As shown, this is one individual ancient bead, sold loose and unmounted, exactly as it survives today. A striking focal piece — ideal as a pendant, threaded as the centerpiece of a necklace with other ancient beads, or kept as a standalone collector's piece.
THE DETAILS THAT MATTER
Beads of this type are dated broadly to the ancient trade-bead era, circa 500 BCE – 1000 CE, and are found across the Himalayan belt — India, Tibet, Nepal, China, Pakistan, and Afghanistan — carried along ancient trade and pilgrimage routes through Central and Western Asia. As shown in the photos, there is a small old loss at one end of the bead, where a sliver of the outer banding has broken away over its long history — this is a genuine sign of age and use, not a modern flaw, and does not affect the bead's structure or its ability to be strung. The deep, hand-polished sheen across the rest of the bead is consistent with age and handling.
MATERIAL & LOOK
Natural banded agate with bold chevron/zigzag patterning in white against a dark body. The bead measures 23.5 x 12.3 mm.
WHY COLLECTORS SEEK OUT THIS BEAD
Indo-Tibetan banded agate beads with strong, well-defined chevron patterning are sought after by collectors of ancient Himalayan trade beads, Buddhist mala components, and natural banded agate formations — prized for the graphic, geometric quality of their natural banding.
SPECIFICATIONS
• Material: natural banded agate with natural chevron formation (Indo-Tibetan / Himalayan type)
• Feature: bold natural zigzag chevron banding
• Period: circa 500 BCE – 1000 CE
• Region: Indo-Tibetan / Himalayan belt (India, Tibet, Nepal, China, Pakistan, Afghanistan)
• Size: 23.5 x 12.3 mm
• Format: single loose bead, drilled, ready to string
• Condition: ancient, genuine wear and polish consistent with age; small old loss at one end (see photos)
This item will be shipped with trackable registered mail.
Details
Era
Before 1400
Title additional information
Ancient banded agate
Material
Agate
Country of origin
India
Dynastic style/period
circa 500 BCE – 1000 CE
Condition
Good condition - used with small signs of aging & blemishes
Height
12.4 mm
Width
12.4 mm
Depth
32.4 mm
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