AN OLD TUBULAR 'CHUNG DZI' HONEY AGATE BEAD Himalayan region, presumably Tibet or India, around 500-1000 CE or later. Long, translucent bead of a warm color palette, ranging from honey yellow to milky white. Well-polished and with central drilling showing ancient toolmarks. 'Chung dzi' beads are believed to have been created in ancient times by bead makers from agate or chalcedony and were worn as protective amulets. The prefix chung in this instance refers to a specific type of stone material that has unique healing properties. Condition: Very good condition with some minor notches and weathering commensurate with age. Provenance: The collection of The Zelnik Istvan Southeast Asian Gold Museum. Institutional art collection in Belgium, acquired from the above. Dr. Istvan Zelnik, President of the Hungarian South and Southeast Asian Research Institute, is a former high-ranking Hungarian diplomat who spent several decades in Southeast Asia, building the largest known private collection of Asian art in Europe. Weight: 6 g Dimensions: 5.3 cm