Fish Bone 108 Mala with Carved Skull Beads
Fish Bone 108 Mala with Carved Skull Beads
Between sizes? Size up — a little room sits more comfortably.
Spiritual Meaning
In Tibetan Buddhism, a mala of 108 beads is used to count mantras, one bead for each recitation. The guru bead marks the start and end of a round; by custom you turn back at it rather than pass over it.
Skulls appear often in Tibetan Buddhist art, from the dancing skeleton pair of the charnel ground to the small skull beads strung into malas. They are not meant to frighten. They point to impermanence: everything changes, and holding things lightly is its own kind of ease.
A mala that mixes carved and plain beads keeps that thought in rhythm with the practice, a small face returning every so often as the beads pass through the fingers.
The colors along the strand echo the prayer flags, where green is linked with water, red with fire, yellow with earth and blue with sky. The blue, yellow and green tassel carries three of them.
The counter tail and the charms are for the hand as much as the eye: something to rest the fingers on at the end of a round.
Wear it, or hold it, as a quiet reminder to count slowly, breathe, and begin again.
Description
Specifications
Material: Fish Bone Beads, Skull-Face Guru Bead, Carved Bone Pendant, Green Beads, Coconut Shell Beads, Red Bead, Metal Skull Bead and Rings, Tooth-Shaped Charm, Carved Gourd Charm, Leather Spacers, Cord and Tassel
Beads: 108 fish bone barrel beads, 6 mm, milky white and softly translucent; some carved with small skull faces, some left plain; each bead varies slightly
Wear: wraps four times around the wrist
Style: Tibetan / Himalayan, unisex
Suitable for: Mantra Counting, Meditation, Daily Wear, Mindful Gifts
The Elements
108 fish bone beads · 6 mm, milky white barrels, some carved with a small skull face, some plain
Skull-face guru bead, a size larger, with a translucent three-hole stem bead below it
Carved bone pendant in honey yellow, hanging from the guru bead on dark cord
Counter tail of four small fish bone beads on black cord
One large green bead and small green beads set along the strand
Two black coconut shell barrel beads, each crossed by a fine golden line
Orange-brown coconut shell ring bead
Short drop with a small red bead and a small metal skull bead
White tooth-shaped charm on a metal ring
Small orange carved gourd charm with a blue, yellow and green tassel
Small leather spacers between the beads
Each piece knotted and wrapped by hand
This is a hand-strung artisanal piece. Each bead carries unique grain, tone and texture. Slight variations in color and carving are normal and part of its charm. No two bracelets are identical. Please allow 3–4 business days to make.
Free over $99 · US 7–12, intl 7–20 business days
Free on orders of $99 or more; otherwise standard shipping is $8. Each piece is prepared by hand over 3–4 business days, then takes about 7–12 business days to reach the US, or 7–20 business days elsewhere. Faster options, where available, are shown at checkout. Shipping Policy
30-day limited warranty
Every piece is strung and knotted by hand. If something gives way under normal wear within 30 days of delivery, we will repair, restring or replace it, and cover the shipping.
Covered: a broken cord or elastic, a knot or clasp that fails, beads or parts that come loose, or a piece that arrives damaged.
Not covered: accidents, everyday wear and the way bone, metal and cord change over time, soaking or contact with chemicals, and repairs made elsewhere.
To claim: email support@blessmuse.com with your order number and a photo or short video. We reply within 1–2 business days.
15-day returns & exchanges
Not quite right? You can return or exchange a piece within 15 days of delivery.
- Condition: unworn and unused, in its original packaging.
- How: email support@blessmuse.com with your order number before sending anything back. We reply within 1–2 business days with the return address.
- Shipping: return shipping is paid by you. The original shipping fee is not refunded.
- Refund: sent to your original payment method within 3 business days of receiving your return.
Arrived damaged, or broke with normal wear? That's covered by our 30-day warranty. Returns & Exchanges
1% of every order set aside for the Highlands
We set aside 1% of every order to support Himalayan craft communities and the high-altitude lands that inspire our pieces. As BlessMuse grows, we'll name the partners we give to and share the details here.
- Made to be worn every day
- Secure checkout
A Small Face on Every Few Beads
Pour it into your palm and it gathers into four loose rounds: 108 small barrels of fish bone, milky white, with light passing a little way into each one. Most are plain. Every few beads, one turns toward you with a face: two russet eyes and a single stitched line, cut small and simple, closer to a quiet smile than to anything grim.
Follow the strand and color comes in, one note at a time. A round green bead, larger than the rest, and smaller greens further on. Two black barrels, each crossed by a fine line of gold. A ring bead the orange-brown of dark honey. Between them sit thin rounds of soft leather, so the beads rest against something warm instead of clicking together.
Where the two ends meet is the guru bead, a larger skull face set above a translucent stem. Below it hangs a carved bone pendant in honey yellow, and below that four small white beads on black cord. Along the strand a short drop carries a red bead, a tiny metal skull and a pale tooth-shaped charm, while a small orange gourd charm sways on a tassel of blue, yellow and green.
Sit, and begin beside the guru bead. One bead, one breath. When a small face passes under your thumb, let it be a reminder: this breath, too, is passing. When you reach the guru bead again, pause, and begin again.
Fish Bone, Skull Faces and Small Charms
The main strand is 108 fish bone beads, each a 6 mm barrel, milky white and softly translucent. Some are carved with a small skull face, two round eyes and a stitched line filled in reddish brown; the rest are left plain, so the faces appear at irregular intervals around the strand.
The two ends meet at a larger skull-face guru bead above a translucent three-hole stem bead and a small golden spacer. From there, on dark cord, hangs a carved bone pendant in honey yellow, finished with a counter tail of four small fish bone beads on black cord.
Set among the main beads are one large green bead and smaller green beads, two black coconut shell barrel beads each crossed by a fine golden line, and an orange-brown coconut shell ring bead. From the ring bead a short cord carries a small red bead, a small metal skull bead and a white tooth-shaped charm on a metal ring. A small orange carved gourd charm with a blue, yellow and green tassel hangs from another metal ring. Small leather spacers sit beside the guru bead and the larger beads. Every piece is strung by hand, so the color, carving and placement of the faces differ a little from one mala to the next.
Made by Hand
One Bead at a Time
Every strand is threaded and knotted by hand, slowly, the way prayer beads have been made for generations. No two come out quite the same.
Questions
How do I choose my size?
Measure your wrist snugly and add about 1 cm. Each listing shows its size range; see the Size Chart on this page.
How should I care for my piece?
Keep it away from water, perfume and harsh sunlight. See our care guides.
How much is shipping?
Free on orders of $99 or more, worldwide. Below that, standard shipping is $8. Each order takes 3–4 business days to prepare by hand, then about 7–12 business days to reach the US, or 7–20 business days elsewhere. Expedited shipping is available at checkout. Shipping Policy
Can I return it?
Yes, within 15 days of delivery, as long as the piece is unworn and in its original packaging. Return shipping is paid by you. Email support@blessmuse.com first and we will send the return address. If it breaks with normal wear within 30 days, we will repair or replace it. Returns & Exchanges
Complete the Story
FREE SHIPPING OVER $99
INSPIRED BY TIBETAN TRADITION
15-DAY RETURNS · 30-DAY WARRANTY
Care, returns & warranty
Care
Keep dry: Avoid water, sweat, perfume, and oil-based products.
Initial prep: Wipe gently with a clean cotton cloth daily for the first 1–2 weeks to form an even base patina.
Storage: Store in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight or extreme temperatures.
Polishing: Use a soft microfiber cloth to buff beads regularly to keep their luster.
Avoid impact: Do not drop or scratch the beads to protect their surface.
Warranty Policy
Every piece is strung and knotted by hand. If something gives way under normal wear within 30 days of delivery, we will repair, restring or replace it, and cover the shipping.
Covered: a broken cord or elastic, a knot or clasp that fails, beads or parts that come loose, or a piece that arrives damaged.
Not covered: accidents, everyday wear and the way bone, metal and cord change over time, soaking or contact with chemicals, and repairs made elsewhere.
To claim: email support@blessmuse.com with your order number and a photo or short video. We reply within 1–2 business days.