Tiger Tooth Motif, 21.0×17.7mm, rose-red agate (N-062926-TT)

🔍 Unretouched photos. 📐 Dimensions verified. ✅ Described from direct observation.

On a round bead, the tiger tooth has no fixed face — and on this one, the rose-red ground makes the dark zones read differently at every rotation.

This bead is formed from natural agate in an unusual warm rose-red to dusty terracotta tone — not the typical grey, cream, or brown ground seen on most tiger tooth dzi. The colour sits somewhere between soft brick-red and muted rose, with a slight chalky warmth in the lighter zones and a deeper plum-brown quality where the banding concentrates. The high-gloss polish intensifies both the depth of the dark banding and the warmth of the lighter ground, so the contrast shifts noticeably depending on the light angle.

The tiger tooth motif is formed by deep chocolate-brown to dark plum-brown diagonal bands that wrap across and around the surface. Because this is a spherical form, the composition is never fixed. Viewed from one face, the bands read as clean chevrons. Rotate the bead 90 degrees and the same bands become flowing curves. From the drill axis, the banding wraps the crown in concentric arcs. No two orientations give the same reading — which is the nature of the tiger tooth motif on a round form, and part of what makes this bead hold attention in the hand.

The form itself is ovoid rather than perfectly spherical — slightly taller than wide, with an organically asymmetric crown that gives the bead a natural, pebble-like silhouette. The drilling is standard and clean. No cracks or chips are present — this is my own observation from all five photo angles. Minor natural inclusions are present within the stone, intrinsic to the agate and not damage.

The Tiger Tooth Motif

The tiger tooth (also called tasso) is one of the foundational dzi motifs, representing the protective strength and courage of the tiger. In Tibetan tradition, the tiger is one of the Four Dignities — a symbol of confidence and a wakeful, grounded power. The tooth form, rendered in bold diagonal banding, is believed to guard the wearer and bring inner fortitude. On a new bead like this one, the motif carries the same symbolic intention as its antique counterparts, expressed through the natural colour and character of the stone itself.

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Motif: Tiger Tooth (Tasso)
Length: 21.0mm
Diameter: 17.7mm
Form: Round / ovoid
Material: Agate
Age Estimate: New — crafted within the last 20 years
Condition: No cracks or chips. Minor natural inclusions within stone, intrinsic to material.
Bloodspots: None
Product ID: N-062926-TT
Collection: New & Vintage Dzi

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Other Tiger Tooth Dzi in the Shop

For antique examples of the tiger tooth motif on a round form, see the Antique Round Wave & Tiger Tooth Dzi (At-111325-WTT) — a 200–400 year old piece in the same spherical tradition.

For an ancient round tiger tooth bead, see Ac-021724-TT — 500+ years, same motif in cool grey-brown agate.

For new tiger tooth dzi in the classic elongated barrel form, see the New Tiger Tooth Motif Dzi Pair with Bloodspots (N-062426-TTBS).

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📖 Learn more: What Are Dzi Beads? | What Makes a Dzi Bead Authentic?

Every bead at Ancient Dzi Shop is described and photographed without retouching, so what you see is exactly what you receive.

🔍 Unretouched photos. 📐 Dimensions verified. ✅ Described from direct observation.

Photos: Five unretouched product images, white background, multiple rotations including drill-end views.

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