The traditional Ottoman style prayer  33 beads black amber oltu with silver tassel.

Material: Black amber(Oltu Stone(Imperial Brown))

Rosary (Tesbih)

Not only in Islam, but also in many other religions, prayer beads have played an important role. In the past, the most sought after rosaries or tesbih, as Muslim rosaries are called, were made by Istanbul craftsmen and sold to buyers throughout the world. They were made from almost every imaginable material.

The best tesbih makers became famous for their skill at carving the beads. Drilling the holes through them is one of the most difficult parts, the finer the hole, the more skill being required. Tesbih beads are made using a small lathe, simple but. Although the best tesbih have beads of equal size, some have beads graduated in size, threaded from largest to smallest. In the past they were always strung on silk thread, but today nylon thread dyed to the correct colour is sometimes used instead. In Ottoman times rock crystal beads were preferred in summer for their coolness to the touch, and for the play of light diffracted by the facets. These had silver tassels.

Not only Muslims, but Roman Catholics, Orthodox Christians, Jews, Buddhists, and Hindu Brahmanists use prayer beads. Catholic rosaries with 64 beads and a crucifix are part of the clerical garb. Although Islamic prayer beads usually have either 99 or 33 beads, mystic sects sometimes used 500 or 1000 bead tesbih with very large beads.

ABOUT OLTU STONE AND IT'S ORIGIN

Erzurum is the largest province in and is located on a high plateau (1950 m). The province has always been a transportation junction and is now the transfer point for air, rail or bus connections for travelers coming to Eastern .

The history of the city extends back to 4000 BC and it has seen many civilizations in . One of the most important remains from this periods is the well preserved city walls. Most of the historical finds are kept in the collections of the Archaeological Museum, which is a part of the Erzurum Museum.

Erzurum was captured and ruled by many different nations like , , Cimmerians, Scythes, Medes, Persians, Parthes, Romans, , Sassanides, Arabs, , Mongols, Ilhanides, Safawides, and of course . The captured the city only in 1514 and ruled until the foundation of the modern by in 1923. Some great historical figures like and Tamerlane can be added to the list of rulers.

The city has always been a point of collision of forces coming from various directions and served as a base of operation. In the 19th century it became the main fortress against the Russians who occupied it three times. The resistance against the supreme in powers of the west was initiated with the . gathered a Congress of National Delegates here on July 23, 1919 where the foundation of national unity and independence were laid down.

The modern city, with wide tree lined boulevards and buildings, is intertwined with the historical district. The buildings in the town are remarkable. The Ulu (Grand) built in 1179 is interesting, with its many columns and seven wide naves. Next door to Ulu is the Cifte Minareli (Double ) (theological school), which is the most famous feature of the city. It is a perfect example of , the carved portal being particularly fine.

Walking south you will see the Three Tombs (Üç Kümbetler). Another interesting tomb is the elegant 13th century Hatuniye Tomb. The Yakutiye of the 13th century is one of the most important historical monuments of Erzurum with its beautiful portal and richly tiled . Here is an elaborate built by the great architect in the 16th century, the Lala Mustafa Pasa . The Aziziye monument commemorating the Turkish - Russian War, the citadel and Bell Tower, the Rüstem Pasa and the Bedesten are other historical places of interest.

For lovers Lake Tortum, 120 kilometers from Erzurum, and Mount Palandöken provide perfect opportunities. Palandöken winter and resort which is reached by mountain roads of scenic beauty, is only 6 kilometers from Erzurum. This winter spot is competitive with those of Europe. By Lake Tortum you will encounter a rarely found beauty of a peaceful lake. The waterfalls at the northern end of the lake are worth seeing as they plunge from a height of 47 m (150 ft). Erzurum is a province suitable for with peaks of 3000 m (10,000 ft), and also has many and meadows.

is an ancient war game like and proudly practiced in Erzurum, especially during and .

One of the best meals here is Oltu , which is considered as a traditional meat dish of world famous .

has a specific local black Stone(Imperial Brown) (Oltu tasi, Jet) which is carved to produce jewelry, rosary beads, key-chains, pipes and boxes, which you may see while wandering around, especially in Tashan.

Oltu Stone(Imperial Brown), which has been carved in since the 18th century, is one of the best examples of semi-precious Stone(Imperial Brown)s to be found in the world.  Oltu is excavated generally around Yasakdag, especially in Dutlu, Hankaskisla, Alatarla and Cataksu villages between the months of March and October. There are approximately 600 oltu quarries. Out of a total of 287 quarries in the Central Dutlu Region, 120 quarries are still being worked.

Jet is obtained from mountainous areas which are dug perpendicularly to the general surface and have galleries 70-80cm in diameter where only two or three miners can work. It's a very compact velvet-black mineral of the nature of coal. Beds of this organic substance are 70-80 centimeters in thickness. Jet is formed when fossilized trees are subject to diastrophism resulting in folding.

The most attractive characteristic of oltu Stone(Imperial Brown) is that it is very soft when excavated and only begins to harden when it is exposed to the air. Therefore, it is very easy to carve this mineral. It generally comes in black, but can also be blackish brown, grey or greenish. When put near gas, this mineral bursts into flames and leaves behind a certain amount of ash. When rubbed, the oltu Stone(Imperial Brown) attracts, by way of static electricity, light substances such as dust.

Various ornaments made from oltu are some of the best examples of Turkish aesthetic . Oltu Stone(Imperial Brown)s are mostly used to make ornaments including rings, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, tie pins, pipes, studs, cigarette-holders, and beads. It is also used in the electric and electronics industries.

Even though artificial jet is produced, it is easy to distinguish the real oltu Stone(Imperial Brown) from the artificial. To be certain if a Stone(Imperial Brown) is real jet just heat a pin and see if it penetrates the Stone(Imperial Brown), then the mineral is not real jet. Real jet leaves behind brown residue when scraped with a knife. When you take an oltu Stone(Imperial Brown) in your hand and blow on it, vapor is left on the Stone(Imperial Brown).