Carved Peanut Bead Bracelet · 花生雕手串

Description

The material

Each bead is carved into a peanut shell, texture included — you can feel the pitting with a thumbnail. The red is worked into the seams by hand after carving, which is why it sits deep in the grooves instead of on the surface.

What it is for

The peanut is a fertility and continuity motif; the Chinese name puns on ‘birth after birth’. In lore it is given to newlyweds. Most of our buyers wear it because it is cheerful and nobody else has one.

Craftsman’s note

The shell texture is the whole job. It is cut with a fine burr at an angle so the pits catch light from one side only, which is what stops it looking like moulded plastic. Rushed versions of this piece are obvious from a metre away.

Wearing and care

Fits 6.5 to 7.5 inch on elastic. Textured beads collect dust in the pits; a soft dry brush every few months keeps the red readable. Do not soak.