Eye-Pattern Barrel Bead Bracelet · 眼纹桶珠手串

Description

The material

Pale cream with a single dark marking per bead. The markings are natural to the material rather than applied, which is why they vary in size and why some sit dead centre and others sit off to one side. The stringer’s job is to turn each bead so the eyes face the same way round the loop.

What it is for

The eye motif is read as watchfulness across most of Asia, and in lore a string of them is worn facing outward. It is the entry piece in this catalogue and the one we most often see bought two at a time.

Craftsman’s note

Barrel beads take longer to string than rounds because orientation matters. Getting fifteen markings to sit in a row without gaps takes maybe forty attempts at rotation.

Wearing and care

Fits 6.5 to 7.5 inch on elastic. Pale material shows dirt from hand cream more than dark material does; wipe it down weekly and it stays cream rather than going grey at the drill holes.