rosary workshop - Hunt Museum Index
ANTIQUE IRISH ROSARIES
FROM THE HUNT MUSEUM - LIMERICK
IRELAND
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During a recent trip to Ireland, we asked an antiques dealer why it was so hard to find rosaries in Ireland. She explained it was because of the old custom of burying the rosary with its owner. So when we found the following rosaries at the Hunt Museum in Limerick City, we felt truly blessed. + 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) GALWAY CROSS
- CONFIGURATION
- PENAL CROSS
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~ THE GALWAY CROSS ~ |
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+ Often a bead is attached to the bottom before the tassel is formed or connected. 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). |
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The design (Especially the Corpus) of these tubular crucifixes reflects the active Spanish influence - because of trade - during the 18th and 19th centuries in Galway Bay, Ireland. A beautiful example of the Galway Rosary using a center. |
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The position of the 6 Pater beads in realation to the 5 decades and the pendant. Also see close up of Crucifix (above right). Silver and horn dated 18c + Also note the red silk fabric cut into thin strips to form the tassel at the bottom of the crucifix |
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.+ This passementerie may have simply been available but since the rosary is often called a 'WEAPON AGAINST EVIL' we thought it very appropriate that a military touch be present! |
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~ PENAL CROSS ~ |
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"Penal crosses are actually crucifixes that are thought to date back to the the time of the 17th century penal laws against the Roman Catholics in Ireland. These crosses often have symbols of the passion displayed around the corpus. It is likely that many of these penal crosses were produced as devotional souvenirs for pilgrims at Lough Derg. Co. Donegal. Pilgrimages still take place to *Lough Derg every summer.' (The Hunt Museum with permission) + The arms were kept short as they had a tendency to break off since they were carved from wood. |
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Reverse |
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~ ROSARY DIRECTORY ~
For more information about the Penal Cross and rosary, see links below |
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An overview of the rosary crosses of Ireland |
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Unique tubular crucifixes in silver, influenced by the Spanish trade from the Hunt. |
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18c Penal Rosaries and crosses, a mini history with pictures. |
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Rosaries of amber and ivory, from the 1700s - 1800s |
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a holy place, St Patricks Purgatory - Penal Cross |
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... and back to Galway Bay for dinner |
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~ MORE CROSSES ~
The Hunt Museum has a beautiful collection of bronze corpus' from old crosses, believed to be German (11th - 12th century. The third one over from the left is Anglo Saxon, 10th c. For more information, go to their site (see below) |
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HUNT MUSEUM then to 'online collection'. scroll down to 'R' (Religious / Ritual equipment) for an in depth look at the items above and more. + or write THE HUNT MUSEUM The Custom House Rutland Street, Limerick Ireland Tel 061 452022 |
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antique rosary museum index history index for more information on LOUGH DERG |
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