Mala necklace with 108 white jade beads, Qing dynasty

Made of white jade with a glassy polish. The piece has a long structure composed of one hundred and eight spherical beads, each with a central hole for stringing. The ensemble displays a design of great purity and balance, where the uniform size of the beads creates a rhythmic cadence interrupted only by the orange and reddish-coloured end beads or ‘guru’ beads. It comes with a custom-made box lined with brocade silk. Qing dynasty (1644–1911).

Bead diameter: 1.2 cm; Length: 144 cm

Weight: 272 g