Shah Maqsood Serpentine Tesbih of Ninety-Nine Beads

A tesbih of ninety-nine hand-carved oval beads in natural Shah Maqsood serpentine, a pale green translucent stone from western Afghanistan, prized for centuries for its spiritual and cultural associations and for the smooth, waxy polish it takes.

The strand carries two separators and finishes in a tassel hung with an Ottoman silver coin dated 1142 / 1728. Prayer beads of this kind are used for dhikr, the remembrance of God, in Islamic devotional practice.

The beads measure roughly 8 mm each, and the strand runs approximately 83 cm (32½ inches) excluding the finial and coin tassel, weighing about 30 grams. It is equally at home worn as a necklace.