The Pixiu is a Chinese guardian figure, usually described as a winged lion, traditionally worn to gather wealth and keep it. Black obsidian is volcanic glass. The pairing is old and it is popular for a practical reason: the two together photograph beautifully and feel substantial.
Black obsidian
Volcanic glass, not a crystal in the strict sense. It takes a mirror polish and reads almost black, catching light only at the edges. Natural obsidian is never perfectly uniform — if every bead is identical, you are looking at glass.
The Pixiu
Traditionally the figure is worn facing outward, on the wrist or as a pendant. The convention is about direction, not about the object doing anything on its own.
What to check
- Bead size. Pixiu pieces usually sit at 10 mm rather than 8 mm, because the centrepiece needs weight beside it.
- Plating. Gold-tone Pixiu are almost always brass with plating. That is fine — it just needs saying.
- Cord. A heavier centrepiece puts more strain on the cord. Look for a double-knotted elastic core.