Gallery Seven

This is a perfect example of a well used and loved WWI rosary with an old field repair, wonderful for those who have a WWI collection of artifacts or those who appreciate the historical significance of finding a rosary that has never been polished and has an original field repair. Note the repair with very old string between the crucifix and center- done in the field on a treasured rosary which may have represented the only glimmer of hope the soldier had. This is not a beautiful rosary, rather one of great emotional and historic significance. Now with a private collector who appreciates its significance.

I have seen many variations on this rosary with black French Jet beads, Mother of Pearl beads and even mid-20th century lucite moonglow beads! This one is special as it has Jesus on the Crucifix, many have just the filigree silverwork cross. Gorgeous filigree work as can only be done in the tradition of southern Europe. Note the intricate spacers on either side of the Pater beads. This rosary differs from most as there are spacers above the center. The center is a stylized M with 3D crown. This is a truly amazing silver filigree rosary from the end of the 19th century. Beautiful cross is over 2 1/2" and the rosary is 22 1/2" laid flat. An amazing high-end collector rosary, rare and stunningly beautiful! Spend some time looking at the wonderful detail of this incredible rosary. Unmarked but surely it is 800 or better silver. US law didn't require precious metals to be marked until the early 1900's so many antique silver pieces are not marked.

Rosaries2 050.jpg Remarkable antique Franciscan Crown or seven decade rosary coming from Quebec. Note the huge bronze St. Francis medal- look closely at the details, simply a wonderful medal, a rare item itself. The reverse is a Miraculous Medal with script in French. The medal is large and heavy 1 5/8". Now, to the rosary itself. Huge 39" from tip of cross to tip of medal. Note the carved Pater beads. Although I think the beads are wood, as always it is difficult to tell when they are black- so often they really are gutta percha or similar material. Wonderful rosary from the 1800's. This rosary is in a private collection.

A simply exquisite antique nun's rosary with a carved wood skull or Momento Mori, a reminder that we are mortal, beautiful smooth wooden cross and a full 15 decades. This rosary is from the Beguine convent of Herentals in Belgium which is now closed. It is well worth looking up the history of these convents- quite an interesting story, much to long to relate here. This rosary is probably from the very early part of the 20th century, at least one of the medals may be from the 1940's, added to the rosary. The rosary is 35" in length, the beads are tiny at 4mm for the Aves and 5mm for the Paters and I am unsure of the composition- they are a very hard and richly colored, almost caramel shade with some variations in the color if you look very closely. The chain is steel and quite strong. The wooden crucifix is 3 1/2" with a lovely brass corpus and INRI scroll. Four medals are attached just above the crucifix including a St. Rita, a Miraculous Medal, a St Christopher and what appears to be an Infant of Prague medal in a cross shape. The highlight of this rosary is the carved wooden skull attached above the drop where a center would be found. It is 1/2" in length and rather crudely carved. Now in a private collection.