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| นิตยสาร สารคดี: ฉบับที่ ๒๑๕ เดือนมกราคม ๒๕๔๖ | ISSN 0857-1538 | |||
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| Story: Kesorn Sittiniw Photos: Sakon Kasemphant, Bunkit Suthiyananon |
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Eye beads. dZi beads. Etched Carnelian. Puntek. To ordinary people, these strange names mean nothing. To bead collectors or traders, these names mean everything. They refer to rare, ancient beads, which carry with them a myriad of stories dated back thousands of years ago. What is so special about beads? Anthropologists believe that every human being of the ancient time must find the use of beads in one way or another. While most of us, modern people, might think of beads mainly as ornaments, beads carried much more importance to our ancestors. They were used as talismans, currency, objects for rituals, even a token of connection between the physical and spiritual worlds. |
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Thongchai Intrachusi, who owns one of the most comprehensive collections of beads in the world, said most of what we know about beads -- and we don't know that much -- are based on assumptions. "There is nothing specific. The world of beads remains shrouded in mystery. One new bead found and the history of beads as we know it could be completely changed, " he said. While no-one knows for sure when was the first bead made, archaeological evidence suggested that human beings have used beads for at least 40,000 years. |
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It is difficult to point out why beads were made. Some believe beads were born when Stone Age people learned to put a hole through their stone tools so that they could carry it around easily. Others think people made beads in the shape of eye because they craved a sense of security related to seeing
and communicating. Of all the ancient beads, the dZi bead from Tibet is considered the rarest and most expensive. It is made from black or brown agate, adorn with circles representing the eye. The more "eyes" there are on the bead, the more important is the person who owns it. |
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The dZi bead is considered sacred by Tibetans and people in the Himalayan region. Only priests or members of the royal family could own it. The dZi bead was not made again after Tibet was annexed by China. Its limited number makes this particular bead such a coveted collectible. Needless to say, a
great deal of reproductions have been circulated around in the market. Most collectors agree that the charm of beads lie in the fact that they can open their eyes up to the life, stories, belief systems, politics and culture of people in different ages. These are people who would not mind paying a several thousands of baht for a single bead. Maybe these pieces of stone or glass with a hole through them do have something special about them after all. |