Carved Bone Skull and Spacer Bead Necklace

This is a hand-carved necklace featuring stylized primitive skull beads interspersed with small spherical spacer beads. The material appears to be bovine bone, characterized by a creamy off-white color with visible pits, striations, and a organic grain consistent with natural osseous material. Each skull bead is uniquely hand-hewn, exhibiting variations in the shape of the orbital sockets and nasal cavities, which suggests folk-art craftsmanship rather than mass production. The beads range from approximately 8mm to 15mm in size. The necklace is strung on a simple white fiber cord, possibly cotton or synthetic, with visible knots between sections. The condition shows light signs of wear and age, including minor surface dirt in the recessed carvings and a natural yellowish patina that has developed over time. There are some rough edges on the carvings, though it is unclear if these are original to the manufacturing or due to minor chipping. The overall style is reminiscent of memento mori jewelry or traditional Tibetan mala prayer beads, likely dating to the late 20th century. No manufacturer labels, stamps, or hallmarks are visible on the beads themselves.