rosary workshop - Hunt Museum Galway Rosaries
GALWAY ROSARIES - 17c - 18c
FROM THE HUNT MUSEUM - LIMERICK IRELAND
We were unfamiliar with the Galway Rosary so this
was a great find for the Rosary Museum. The tubular cross was a total
surprise since we had purchased one several years ago for the web site
and had no idea why there was not loop at the top. We did not have any
idea of its age or where it came from but could see the Spanish influence
in the corpus design. Now we know.
AMBER
GALWAY ROSARY -
SILVER
GALWAY ROSARY
ROSARY
DIRECTORY
We are grateful to the Hunt for allowing us to share this information with you the students and lovers of the history of the rosary so you may learn more about the precious rosaries of Ireland. All images are used with the permission of the Hunt Museum, Limerick Ireland. Please contact the Hunt directly for use of or further information regarding this collection. (See below)
~ AMBER GALWAY ROSARY ~
The GALWAY CROSS is made of 2 hollow tubes. This
allows it to be attached to the rosary from either the top or bottom of
the crucifix Instead of a ring at the top, the cord (if strung) is
pulled through the length of the tube. The chained rosaries are done
in a similar way and the samples below appear to use cord or leather thong.
Often a bead is attached to the bottom first to hold the tassel in place.
The arms of the cross carry a continuation of the design. Tassels were
often used for functional and ornamental reasons yet carried the symbolism
of 'wiping away the tears'. It is interesting that several of the 'tassels'
use techniques found in military uniform passementerie (trim).
THE LONG SILVER BICONE PATER BEADS WITH TURNED ENDS
