These all look like fakes that come out of Afghanistan and Iran, such as can be seen in my book Magical Ancient Beads. They are sometimes old or ancient beads, that have been cut on one side to provide a seat for a "seal," and are then poorly engraved. I write "poorly" because these fakes are a shadow of the real things--being wheel-cut and crude. Take an impression and view the figure. Many ancient seals are surprisingly detailed and impressive when the impression is viewed. Many fakes are not.

I first became aware of Afghan beads crossing into China and being passed-off as "Chinese" about five to eight years ago. I believe this is a matter of recent bead movements and misrepresentation, rather than the (probably hoped-for) situation where beads changed hands in antiquity, and thus are now found in a variety of places.

Jamey