Strand of small Pumtek beads 6 tubular, 2 diamond, 2 half-moon, and 46 round beads ranging in size from 8 to 4mm diameter. Only one available
Pumtek means "buried thunderbolt" in the Chin language of Burma where these beads originate. That gives an idea of how interesting they are!
The original versions were made by the Pyu people of Burma between the 3rd and 9th centuries and have been valued as heirloom beads ever since.
The come in a variety of shapes and sizes and may have been inspired by, and were probably made with similar techniques, as dZi beads.
They exploded onto the western bead market in the 1980s and were initially not very expensive, but the prices have increased dramatically and reproductions quickly followed, confusing the market
I particularly like these small sizes, but they were likely made within the past 40 years in Myanmar.
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