Four Eye & Tiger Tooth Dzi Bead, 49.0×11.7mm, very dark brown agate (At-071026-4ETT)

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

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This bead carries two entirely different compositions on two pairs of opposite faces — and the shift between them is immediate. The eye faces each show two rings, centred and framed, with a vertical stripe dividing them. Turn the bead ninety degrees and the rings are gone: the full face is given over to tiger teeth, with broad cream-beige chevron forms filling the space from edge to edge. The two motifs don't share a face; they alternate, each taking its full turn as the dominant element before giving way to the other.

The ground colour confirmed from all four white-background shots is a very dark brown — deep and rich, with a warm tone visible especially at the end caps and in the body zones between motif lines. The cream-beige etched lines are bold and well-preserved, reading with high contrast against the dark ground. The motif coverage is full and even across all four faces, with no fading or softening of the design.

The eye faces (images 1 and 3) each show two cream rings with a darker brown centre point, separated by a single vertical dividing stripe. The rings are cleanly formed and sit squarely on the face. The tiger tooth faces (images 2 and 4) present a different visual weight entirely — the cream zones are broad, the tooth forms large, and the dark ground reads as a series of dark lines cutting through cream rather than the reverse. This inversion of figure and ground between the two face types gives the bead a strong visual contrast at every rotation.

Both drill ends show the warm dark brown end cap clearly. The drill holes show age-consistent wear at the rim — a light tan ring around each opening that indicates the bead has been strung and handled over a long period. No chips and no cracks are present.

The surface has a smooth, well-worn quality consistent with its age estimate of 200–400 years. The motif lines show no signs of flaking or erosion; the etching has held cleanly through the bead's working life.

The Four Eye & Tiger Tooth Motif

The four eye dzi (四眼天珠) is among the most widely recognised motifs in the Tibetan dzi tradition, with each eye understood to carry its own protective function and to invoke the blessings of specific protective deities. A four eye bead is traditionally associated with comprehensive protection across all directions. When combined with the tiger tooth (虎牙, hǔ yá) motif — associated with strength, fearlessness, and the warding off of harm — the combined bead brings together the eye's watchful, spiritually connective quality with the tiger's active protective force. The alternation of these two motif types on opposite face pairs means the bead presents both aspects simultaneously depending on orientation.

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Specifications

Motif: Four Eye & Tiger Tooth — two eyes per face on opposite faces, tiger tooth on remaining two faces
Length: 49.0mm
Diameter: 11.7mm
Form: Barrel
Material: Natural agate
Age Estimate: 200–400 years
Condition: Very good. No cracks, no chips. Smooth, well-worn surface. Age-consistent wear at drill hole rims. Minor surface marks consistent with age.
Bloodspots: None
Product ID: At-071026-4ETT
Collections: Antique Dzi · All Products

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For a companion piece in the same crafting style, see the Antique Four Eye & Tiger Tooth Dzi, 46mm (At-082525-4ETT) — same motif arrangement, slightly shorter at 46.4mm.

Explore more antique pieces in our Antique Dzi collection.

Browse all pieces in our full collection.

Further reading: Dzi Motifs and Their Interpretations · What Gives Dzi Beads Value — and What to Be Careful Of

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Every piece at Ancient Dzi Shop is photographed unretouched and described exactly as found. What you see is what you will receive.

Photos: Unretouched images of the exact bead listed. Six product photographs: four white-background lateral views covering all four faces (two eye faces, two tiger tooth faces), and two angled views showing both drill ends.

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