Rare Shaman Protective & Magical Mala Necklace with Hornbeam Skull & Tallons

This very rare Shaman’s Protective Magical Mala Necklace is one of two acquired from a nomadic Tibetan tribe in mid-west Nepal, and dates from the 1800s.   The other has gone to a collector.

It contains a variety of beads and bells, and features at the front a large centrally-placed skull of a Hornbeam set between 2 bird of prey talons, one of which is thought to be that of an eagle (right), and the other a vulture.  A large bronze bell with a sacred rudraksha seed is at the centre back, while the items each side between the skull and bell are identically threaded as follows:

From the Hornbeam Skull…a tiny green glass spacer bead, rudraksha seed, walnut, rudraksha seed, glass bead spacer, talon, 2 seeds, bell, 2 seeds, long lead bead, 2 seeds, bell, 2 seeds, lead bead, 5 seeds (followed by an extra seed and the big bell).

The complete list of components is 1 hornbeam skull, 2 bird of prey talons, 1 large bell, 4 smaller bells, 4 lead beads, 31 sacred rudraksha seeds, 2 walnuts and 4 glass bead spacers.

This rare authentic and unique antique Shaman Magical Mala Necklace is in excellent museum condition, and is worthy of any collection of shamanic power objects.