{"product_id":"fine-horn-necklace","title":"Antique Republic China Horn Bead Necklace 📿 Cherry Red Prayer Bead Strand","description":"\u003ch2\u003eWho Counted Prayers on These Cherry Red Horn Beads? 📿 Antique Republic China Era Horn Bead Necklace\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e 26\" long\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"max-width:315px;margin:0 auto 20px;\"\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"position:relative;padding-bottom:177.78%;height:0;overflow:hidden;\"\u003e\u003ciframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/7aZoxfAHBeo\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer;autoplay;clipboard-write;encrypted-media;gyroscope;picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis one is a beauty in the hand. It's a long strand of round horn beads in deep cherry red, some so dark they read black and others that glow like red glass when you hold them up to a light. I put a plain light bulb behind it for one of the photos so you can see what I mean. It comes from China's Republic period, between 1912 and 1949.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e📿 Finished Like a Prayer-Bead Strand\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe beads sit tight against each other on a dark brown cord, with no clasp. Where the strand closes there's one bigger round bead with a little gourd-shaped piece on top, tied off in a decorative knot with two loose tails. That's how Chinese Buddhist prayer beads are finished. The big bead is called the Buddha head, and the piece that crowns it stands for a stupa. Strands like this were used for counting prayers and mantras, and a full-length one traditionally carries 108 beads plus the head bead.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e🐂 Real Horn\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHorn beads like these were usually cut from water buffalo or ox horn, then polished and dyed, and horn takes a deep red beautifully. You can tell it from plastic by the grain: in the close-up you can see fine lines running through the beads, and no two beads are quite the same color. Plastic doesn't do that.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e🏮 The Republic Era\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Republic of China was founded in 1912, after the last emperor of the Qing dynasty stepped down, and it governed the mainland until 1949. It was a stretch of huge change, and old crafts like horn and bead work carried right on through it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e📏 How It Fits\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt's 26 inches around and has no clasp, so it goes on over your head as a single loop. Please measure around the widest part of your head before you buy and make sure you're comfortably under 25 inches, because the beads take up a little room on the inside. Plenty of folks wear prayer beads wrapped around the wrist instead, and at 26 inches it wraps three times or so.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e🔍 Condition\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGood condition. The beads are glossy, and the two cord tails are a little frayed at the ends.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e🧼 Care\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKeep it away from harsh chemicals and soaking water, and just enjoy wearing it. That's what it was made for.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e🎁 Great For\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnyone who collects Asian antiques or old prayer beads, folks who love natural materials like horn, coral and amber, or a meaningful gift for someone with a meditation corner.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"relatedBlock\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e🔎 More From The Vintage \u0026amp; Antique Gifts Archive\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/vintageantiquesgifts.com\/products\/antique-chinese-republic-period-bronze-crab-in-bamboo-cage\"\u003eAntique Chinese Republic Period Bronze Crab Figurine 🦀 in Bamboo-Form Cage Scholar's Object\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/vintageantiquesgifts.com\/products\/vintage-chakra-necklace-good-vibes-1970s-unopened-over-50-years-treasures\"\u003eVintage 1970s Chakra Necklace 📿 Glass Vial Gemstone Chips Made in India NOS\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/vintageantiquesgifts.com\/products\/antique-ox-horn-qing-dynasty-hand-carved-laughing-buddha-budai-pendant-amulet\"\u003eAntique Qing Dynasty Ox Horn Budai Pendant ✨ Chinese Laughing Buddha Talismanic Amulet, Good Fortune Charm\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Vintage and Antique Gifts","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48769833271528,"sku":"VAG-9558770581736","price":87.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0597\/2718\/4037\/files\/il_fullxfull.8265604206_op3d.jpg?v=1784329542","url":"https:\/\/vintageantiquesgifts.com\/products\/fine-horn-necklace","provider":"Vintage and Antique Gifts","version":"1.0","type":"link"}