Copper Palden Lhamo Bracelet Three-hole Bead Set

Palden Lhamo and the Chinese Shri Devi are not the same figure, which is often confused. The Chinese Shri Devi is a figure of merit and virtue with a dignified appearance; the Tibetan Palden Lhamo is a protector, wrathful and riding a mule, and the imagery is entirely different. Before buying, work out which system the piece belongs to, which matters more than looking at the picture. The two are far apart, and mixing them leads to errors. When someone asks, the first question is whether they mean the Chinese or the Tibetan figure.

In Tibetan tradition Palden Lhamo is one of the principal protectors, and the iconography is fixed: a blue-black body, hair of flame, riding a mule with an eye on its rump, holding a skull-topped club and a skull cup of blood, wearing a garland of skulls. Each of these elements has a meaning in the ritual texts and none of them is decorative. The eye on the mule's rump is the key to recognition, and many simplified versions leave it out. Without it, all that remains is a wrathful figure on a beast, and nobody can tell who it is.

The set can be bought two ways: the whole bracelet, or the three-hole bead fittings on their own. The bracelet saves effort, with the colours and bead sizes already matched; the fittings alone suit anyone who already has main beads and wants to control the size. On a bracelet the bead determines which way the pendant hangs, so the lettering or the face should point outward when fitted. A set usually contains the bead, spacers and pendant, enough to string one bracelet. The main beads are your own, and dark colours are advisable so they do not compete with the brass.

Brass has an advantage with wrathful figures, because the edges cast hard and the shadows after darkening are heavy enough for the ferocity to come through. The drawback is that brass is soft, so detail rounds off, especially the implements in the hands, which blur with wear. A bracelet rubs against the wrist constantly, so expect that. The number of beads follows the wrist measurement, and a little loose is better than tight. A wrathful bracelet can go on either wrist; wear it where you are used to. Worn with a watch it will knock, and since brass is softer than steel the marks stay on the brass.

Do not wear the bracelet too tight; leave a finger's clearance so it does not feel stuffy when you sweat. Take it off to shower, since brass dulls when it meets soap. If it is not worn for a long time, bag it rather than leaving it on a windowsill, because brass colour dislikes both light and damp. Brass dislikes sweat, so wipe it with a dry cloth after summer wear. Whether to use elastic or plain cord is a matter of habit: elastic is convenient but slackens, while plain cord needs a knot, which can be hidden inside the three-hole bead.