Ebony mala with protective amulet

Mala of 108 polished ebony beads with a diameter of 8 mm, with an amulet. The front is embossed with the Tibetan protective symbol «Sipaho» (Tib. srid pa ho). It shows the 8 trigrams («Ba Gua»), the 12 signs of the zodiac, Buddhist symbols and the «magic square» in the centre. Sipaho amulets are traditionally worn in Tibet for protection. The back is polished smooth.

Ebony is a deep black, particularly hard and dense wood obtained from trees of the genus Diospyros. It is prized for its durability, beauty and elegance.