Chinese Mala with Sterling Tibetan Cloud

A long loop of dark beads with a small knot of extras at the top.

This mala with sterling Tibetan cloud is from China and is contemporary, made of zitan and silver. Malas are strings of prayer beads used across Buddhist traditions for counting recitations, and zitan, a dense purplish rosewood, is a long-favored material in Chinese woodworking. Small round beads, nearly black with a soft sheen, run in an even strand. At the top, a short cord gathers a tassel of extra beads and a silver accent. It is 18 inches long.

Built for counting, and patient enough for a very long list.