Chinese Mala or Set of Meditation Beads

String of dark round beads curves gracefully across a white ground.

This zitan mala or set of meditation beads from China is from China, and is contemporary. Zitan is a dense, dark and fine-grained hardwood, often identified with the small-leaf red sandalwood, that has been prized in Chinese furniture and carving for centuries. Strand of round, evenly sized beads in deep reddish brown with a smooth, satin polish. Fine grain marks and tiny pits show on the surfaces. The strand is photographed in a gentle arc. It is 17 inches long.

Plain, round and wonderfully steady in rhythm.