Set of eighteen small beads hand-carved from the very hard kernel of a Chinese ‘gânlan’ fruit. The beads each depict four sages in a landscape with temples and pine trees. Each bead is different from the others and the details are quite fine. Sages are generally people with very long life spans who possess supernatural powers. They represent Longevity. Temples symbolize Good Fortune and Harmony with Nature. The Pine tree is a symbol of Longevity too so these beads clearly wish the wearer a Long Life and Good Fortune. The beads are not signed. Total length approximately 26 cm. Bead length 1.5 cm. Diameter 1.2 cm.