Lisa Black Jewellery

Turquoise and Coral

The artistic impetus for bead making is often rooted in religion. This is certainly true when it comes to early Tibetan culture, where artisans fashioned beads of turquoise, coral and amber designed to reflect spirit and spiritual beliefs.

In Tibet all personal adornment had religious significance and the more ornate the adornment, the more powerful on the spiritual ‘Richter scale.’ Ancient neckpieces with intricate workmanship would signify tribal identity and rank, the more ornate and elaborate, the higher the status and religious rank.

For the ancient Tibetan, these beads were not just incorporated into jewelry for personal ornament, they were used to adorn idols and sacred places of worship. Plus, the intrinsic value of the stones themselves was hugely significant within ancient Tibetan culture.

Coral is one of the seven treasures in Buddhist scriptures, and Tibetan lamas often use coral rosaries. To Buddhists, coral is a treasure that can protect you from devil spirits. Turquoise is also a sacred stone that has been used for centuries to adorn ritual objects in Tibet and elsewhere. Amber, called the “gold of the north,’ has been used to make jewelry since Neolithic times and was held in very high esteem by ancient Tibetans.