Myanmar Pagoda Darong Prayer Bead Ring - Style 8

For nearly 20 years, there has been no circulation of Darong prayer beads, a sacred artifact from Myanmar. Recently, I saw a seasoned dealer of Burmese antiquities return with a batch of prayer bead rings. I was immediately captivated by the ancient, handcrafted style of the ring settings, unlike anything I had seen before. After acquiring them, I learned that... This batch of prayer beads began its journey during the pandemic four years ago. The dealer had commissioned a long-term contact, an intermediary for antiquities in Myanmar, to collect and purchase them through various channels. These prayer beads and Buddha images were excavated from collapsed pagodas in the Mandalay and Bagan regions. Local master craftsmen were then commissioned to create the ring settings according to traditional, time-honored methods for crafting prayer bead rings, and the beads were inlaid. This process accumulated over four years... The batch was brought back from Myanmar at the end of this year. Upon first sight of the ring settings, I visually perceived them as antique. However, the absence of multi-layered oxidation on the copper base, and further comparison with several other handcrafted rings, convinced me that these settings were indeed modern handcrafted pieces. Crafting such purely handmade settings, to achieve this antique aesthetic and rich character, would cost at least 4,000 [currency, implied TWD] for labor alone in Taiwan, excluding materials. ************************** As sacred artifacts, prayer beads are plain, without embellishments. Their appearance alone makes it impossible to distinguish their age. Many temples in Myanmar have traditions of crafting prayer beads. Distinguishing between old and new prayer beads by appearance is exceptionally difficult. Therefore, whether the beads were excavated from pagodas, or are newly crafted modern beads (or even fakes...), their authenticity is indistinguishable from their appearance. While Thai amulets can be sent back to Thailand for authentication by specialized services, there are no such authentication bodies for Darong prayer beads, even if sent back to Myanmar. It is likely that no one in the world can authenticate the age, origin, or genuineness of Darong prayer beads. When purchasing prayer beads, one must rely on trusted antiquities dealers. *********************** Therefore, collectors, please note: The prayer beads were excavated from collapsed pagodas in Mandalay and Bagan. Their age is generally over a century, possibly several centuries or even millennia old. The ring settings are crafted using traditional, rustic, and unrefined artisanal techniques. The ring size is an international size 15, suitable for men's fingers. Although designed for men, women can wear them as pendants on a necklace or with a cord, still experiencing the protective blessings of the prayer beads. The black coating on the exterior of the original ring settings is a local cultural practice, applying a special type of oil. Over time, the settings will gradually turn black. This very black outer layer happened to help bypass difficulties with Myanmar customs. If the original bright yellow luster of the settings and beads were apparent, customs might suspect the smuggling of gold. Years ago, a dealer was detained by Myanmar customs for inspection. While this batch evaded such inspection, some ring settings and beads were still subjected to rough handling and impact testing during a very crude inspection process. This batch of prayer bead rings faced considerable challenges returning to Taiwan! As for the efficacy of Darong prayer beads, here is information found on a Douyin (TikTok) platform in mainland China. For other details, please search online; there is ample information, which will not be elaborated upon here.