Earrings of old Tibetan agate beads with silver repoussé caps. ervs913

Silver and stone earrings featuring old Tibetan grey and white agate beads with repoussé coin silver end-caps. They are finished with sterling silver wires and have been newly assembled from beads sourced from a collector in Nepal in the 1970s. The earrings dangle from 6mm grey mother of pearl beads. The agate and silver beads measure 26x11mm. The total length from the top of the ear wire 54mm (2.1 inches).

These beads were acquired from a collector who purchased them in Nepal in the 1970s. The Tibetans sometimes applied gold or silver caps to the ends of valuable ancient stone beads such as etched carnelians, dZi and banded agates to conceal damage or reinforce fragile beads. This style has been copied in some vintage and contemporary silver-capped beads from Nepal. These  were made 50+ years ago and are much higher quality and have more character than the ones mass-produced today.