Antique Tibetan Three Eye Dzi Bead with Extreme Cinnabar Bloodspots | 100–200 Years Old (At-0426-3EBS2)

We never retouch our photos. What you see is exactly what you will receive.

The Three Eye Dzi is a bead of completeness. Its three etched circles represent the full arc of a life well lived: happiness in the present, success in pursuit, and longevity to enjoy both. In Tibetan Buddhist tradition, three also recalls the Three Jewels: the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha, the foundations of a meaningful practice and a meaningful life. A Three Eye bead does not ask for one thing. It encompasses.

This piece asks for your attention for a second reason beyond the motif: the bloodspots.

The Cinnabar Bloodspots

The cinnabar inclusions on this bead are extreme. Not subtle, and not visible only under magnification, but the kind of bloodspots that make experienced collectors stop and look again. Orange-rust to deep red cinnabar runs through the agate, visible in the close-up photographs alongside and beneath the etched eye circles. In the macro shots it is warm, saturated, and unmistakably natural.

Cinnabar, 硃砂 (zhūshā) in Chinese, is the mineral behind the vermilion pigment used in traditional Tibetan thangka painting. In dzi it is a natural inclusion formed within the agate itself; it cannot be added after the bead is made. Bloodspots occur in beads of every age, including new ones, so they are a feature to enjoy rather than a proof of age. On this bead they are present in remarkable quantity, making it a true bloodspot dzi rather than a bead with a few incidental traces.

Cinnabar colour in agate varies widely. Many bloodspot beads show a brownish, muted, or faint reddish tone. What collectors prize, and what this bead has, is the vivid orange-rust to deep red that has made 硃砂 a treasured pigment for centuries. Learn more in our guide to bloodspots in dzi beads.

Age and Condition

This bead is estimated at 100 to 200 years old, placing it in the antique category, from around the late Qing period. At 47.8mm it is a substantial, wearable piece with a bold presence. The agate is deep black with sharp white and cream etching, and the cinnabar is held within the body of the stone. Condition is excellent: no cracks. Weathering marks consistent with its age are present throughout; they are part of what this bead is.

How This Bead Differs from Our Ancient Three Eye Bloodspot Dzi

• This bead: antique, 100–200 years, 47.8mm, Three Eye only, no Tiger Tooth
• Our ancient listing: 500+ years, 48.0mm, Three Eye and Tiger Tooth, vivid vermilion bloodspots

If you are drawn to the pure Three Eye meaning and prefer an antique piece, this is your bead. If you want the dual motif and greater age, see the ancient listing. Read more about the motif in The Three Eye Dzi Bead: Symbolism and Significance.

Specifications

• Dimensions: 47.8mm × 11.8mm
• Material: High-quality natural agate with cinnabar inclusions
• Motif: Three Eye, for happiness, success, and longevity
• Bloodspots: Extreme; orange-rust to deep red natural cinnabar throughout the agate
• Age estimate: Antique, 100–200 years
• Condition: Excellent. No cracks. Surface weathering consistent with age.
• Product ID: At-0426-3EBS2
• Collections: Antique Dzi | Bloodspot Dzi

We never retouch our photos. What you see is exactly what you will receive.