Najdi Amber Prayer Beads

01Origin & making

Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia, Early 20th century. Everyday equipment that outlived its purpose and became a record of how life was actually lived. Materials: Sterling silver.

02The life of the object

Baltic amber traded south through Ottoman routes and strung in Najd. Under UV the beads glow the milky blue that only true amber gives; the imam's tassel was replaced in silk in the 1980s.

03The journey to Arajiz

From a Riyadh collector who acquired it in Kuwait, 1994. Offered through Bait Al-Fidha in Unaizah. Our specialists examined material, tooling marks and repair history, and a full condition report accompanies the lot.