Whale bead measures 32.5mm long (a little over 1 1/4 inches) and 23.5mm high (just under an inch). This turquoise blue whale bead was hand-made by a Peruvian artist. A ceramic bead, it is sweetly painted with lots of details. The tail is up with a white underbelly and top stripe. 2mm hole is vertically drilled in the position of the whale's spout. Hand-made ceramic beads date back to Peru's Nazcan culture. Whales were prominent in their ceramic art. Whale beads are often worn by Peruvian shamans.