rosary workshop - Open Rosary Gallery
VISITOR'S OPEN GALLERY
ANTIQUE ROSARIES SENT IN BY VISITORS AND FRIENDS
The purpose of this little museum is to share information on the rosary. We delight in the fact that many have responded to our request for images of their personal collections of antique rosaries. Sometimes the images are sent it for us to identify them.  But since we don't always know, we hope you may be able to identify, date - add information of any kind.

CARVED BOGWOOD  -  BENEDICT WHO?  -   19c FRANCISCAN
DECCA ROSARY-  FRENCH CLERIC   -  NUNS ROSARY
19c TENNER-  14 BEAD FILIGREE ROSARY
SENDING YOUR IMAGES   -  VISITOR COMMENTS

... SENDING YOUR IMAGES FOR COSIDERATION ...
Please remember this is an open gallery (images may be add to at any time). We look forward to receiving any identifying information such as origin, age and size on the rosaries that are up. If sending images in to be considered for the Visitors Gallery, please remember quality of picture will be very important.  (see link above for more information)

1st CLASS RELICS
 Part of a Saints body (bone, hair, etc.) and the instruments of Christ's passion

2nd CLASS RELICS
 An item (clothing, etc) owned by the Saint or instruments of torture used against a martyr

3rd CLASS RELICS
 Traditionally a cloth or object that has touched a 1st or 2nd Class Relic or the tomb of a Saint
 
 

WITH GRATITUDE TO DEE GLEASON

~ CARVED BOGWOOD ~

 IMAGES BY LINDA BULLOCK DESIGNS
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 HANDCARVED BOGWOOD BEADS FROM
IRELAND.  A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF AN OLD, AND VERY TRADITIONAL

 IRISH ROSARY - VERY VERY HARD TO FIND AND VERY RARE. THE FLOWERED

 CROSS (3.75 in) IS BEAUTIFULLY CARVED TO MATCH THE

16 BEADS. WE DO NOT KNOW THE PRAYER SEQUENCE FOR
THIS CHAINED ROSARY OR IF IT IS IN ITS ORIGINAL
CONFIGURATION.
(13 inches from center back to tip of cross)
Images by Linda Bullock Designs

... COMMENTS FROM THE OWNER ...
The wood is very dark brown.   The cross and the beads (16) are all carved with flowers from the same wood, which I have been told is Bogwood.  It was believed to be carved at a convent in Ireland about 250 years ago.  Dee Gleason
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... WHILE IN IRELAND ...
When we were in Ireland last month I asked an antique dealer about old bogwood rosaries. She talked about the beauty of the hand carved bog rosaries (probably bog oak) and how hard they were to find - she mentioned that this was because they were usually buried with their owners. We are very grateful to Dee and her daughter who photographed this beautiful rosary for the museum .
Rosary Workshop

~ BENEDICT WHO? ~

 'I have what appears to be an old rosary that I would like to see if someone can give me some information on. it appears to have a piece of bone and a name of St. Benedict.  I have attached some pictures; ANY information or direction to find out any information would be appreciated and helpful.'   Thank You, Thom Martin

Dear Mr Martin, I am not so sure that this is an old rosary.  The piece of bone is a religious relic of St Benedict - I have not seen relic's and rosary's combined in this way before.  There appears to be an old seal included there too.  I would hazard a guess that this object is from a Benedictine monastery, and was used by a Benedictine monk, but without knowing more about the history of the object I cannot speculate any further. Regards John Rattigan, Curator, Clare Museum, Arthur's Row, Ennis, County Clare

FRANCISCAN CROWN - 7 DECADES

~ WOODEN FRANCISCAN ~

 WITH 8 WOODEN PATERS.

A STRUNG ROSARY WITH TUBULAR CROSS AT ONE END

AND AN OLD, VERY WORN WOODEN ICON MEDALLION ON

   .... IDENTIFICATION OF ROSARY (POLISH) ....
Good Afternoon, I believe I know the rosary in the visitor's gallery titled Wooden Franciscan. It was worn by the Felician Sisters (Sisters of St. Felix) on the belt of their habits (part of the Franciscian order, that is why St. Francis' picture is on one side). This rosary was worn on the old habit before they modernized their dress. I believe it is the Franciscan Crown rosary.  It is a Polish order that is why the Black Madonna or Our Lady of Czestochowa on one side. I was an aspirant in the Felician Order in Coraopolis, PA in the 1960s and I recognize this rosary. Hope this helps.  Aleta Tobin (DC)

Picture on the website below: The sister sitting at the right, you can see a little bit of the rosary worn on the habit.
  HOLY FAMILY SCHOOL PICTURE (1957)
and on the image of
 MOTHER MARY ANGELICA TRUSZKOWSKA
Blessed Foundress of the Congregation of Felician Sisters

Thanks Aleta, and thanks for the identification of the Franciscan Crown - for some reason I had the standard count 5 sets of 10  up there instead of the correct 7 sets of 10.  + RW

~ DECCA ROSARY ~

 THIS OLD ONE 'DECCA' OR 'DECADE' (10 BEAD) CHAPLET
HAS A PATER IN THE LOOP. THE PENDANT BEGINS WITH A

 ... COMMENTS FROM OWNER ...
I think the time frame is much before the 19th - 20th century.  One exactly like it was found on Sanibel Island by the archeology department of Florida State.  It was of Spanish origin left there by the early Spanish explorers possibly around the 1600s or somewhat earlier.  If you look into the early Spanish rosaries, you may find more about it.  If I can get it authenticated, I will place it in a museum - possibly one that you could recommend. I do not have a better picture of it, but may take it to a professional photographer, and see if I can get a good shot of it.  Please keep in touch. With kind regards,  Bill Scott
 

~ FRENCH CLERIC ROSARY ~

DO NOT KNOW DATE ON THIS OLD FRENCH CLERIC ROSARY

 OR ROSARY OR SIZE, APPEARS TO BE A 5 DECADE,
TURN OF THE CENTURY.

~ OLD NUN'S ROSARY ~

TRADITIONAL NUNS ROSARY, NOTE CLIP FOR ATTACHING ROSARY

... COMMENTS FROM OWNER ...
I did an internet search on the Brigittine Rosary and found your site.  My very first rosary that I collected was a 6 decade from Nuns estate.  It has Papal seals on it as well.  I don't have a picture of it handy but I sent a couple of others. Since then I have collected a few various types.  Bob Diercks

~ 19c FILIGREE TENNER ~

A VERY INTERESTING SILVER 'TENNER' MADE UP OF
FILIGREE BEADS. PROBABLY TWO FILIGREE BEAD CAPS

SOLDERED  TOGETHER. CREDO CROSS AND TRADITIONAL
CRUCIFIX DATE THIS POSSIBLY MID 19 c GERMANY.

... COMMENTS FROM OWNER ...
My cousin Linda Kolaszewski gave me your name.  We found this chaplet in my mothers belongings.  She doesn't remember anything about it.  My brother and I don't remember ever seeing it before.  Here it appears to be golden in color but it is actually silver in color.  Can you give us any insight to this chaplet.   Thank you.  Joanne Kuhlmann, Canon City, Colorado

~ 14 BEAD FILIGREE ~

THE  FACETED (ENGLISH CUT) BEADS ARE GARNET OR RED GLASS.
FIVE SETS (14) BEADS EACH DIVIDED BY 4 FILIGREE PATERS. CROSS

IS A TRADITIONAL FILIGREE RELIQUARY WITH MOTHER OF PEARL.

INSERTS (BOTH SIDES). NOTE STRINGS AT BOTH ENDS OF ARMS (?)
(SEEN HERE AS TOP AND BOTTOM). IMAGE BELOW SHOWS PLACEMENT

OF TWO SIDED, HAND PAINTED MEDALLION SET IN CRYSTAL. THESE
ARE OFTEN SEEN ATTACHED TO THE  LOOP - MIDWAY BETWEEN EACH

... ROSARY WORKSHOP COMMENTS ...
 BEADS - It is hard to tell if this is the original sequence and number as it was not unusual for rosaries that had fallen apart to be restrung by someone who did not know what the original configuration was. (some rosaries had 7 sets of 10) and it is possible some of the pater beads were either missing or broken. This creates confusion for museum directors in the process of trying to identify unusual counts for which 3rd Orders and Confraternities were well known.
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RELIC - I am not sure when relics became sealed with red wax and red string to insure solid evidence of the authenticity of the relic, so the bone involved may have predated this process and may have come from the person in the image (small medallion above). During the period of the filigree rosary, honor was given to the ruler of the times, (many would become saints) possibly praying the Lord would give him health and wisdom. ROSARY WORKSHOP +MCB
 

~ ROSARIES SEEN ON EBAY ~

These rosaries were seen on ebay and forwarded to us by 2 sources
but no known information other than what we have added below.
If you know anything about them, please let us know.

1682 GERMANY - 'TENNER'

Filigrees below with beautiful treasures added, may be from pilgrimages

items above say 'myeasyshop.de'

2 filigree rosaries of coral - lower 1850

we thank those who have shared these images

~ SENDING YOUR IMAGES ~

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR
Since this is an open museum for antique and vintage rosaries, we encourage you to send your images for consideration. Things we look for:
CLEAR IMAGES (a must) - UNUSUAL CONFIGURATIONS
AND MATERIALS USED
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ANY INFORMATION YOU HAVE IS IMPORTANT
If known, please include
AGE - ORIGIN - SIZE
If you don't know, possibly you have information on its owner, age or history.  Please include anything you feel will identify your rosary or chaplet such as prayers, name of chaplets if known. Remember, the purpose of this site is for the student of the rosary - for those interested in the history of the rosary and how it has been used over the centuries.
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WE MAY BE ABLE TO HELP
So if you have no information, please do not let that stop you from sending it in.  And if we cant help, we will ask for others to add their comments.
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WELCOMING YOUR COMMENTS
You may see rosaries and chaplets in our museum that you know something about, if so, please share - many have and it has become a wonderful resource for those who want to learn about the rosary and its history.
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SEND ATTACHMENTS AND INFORMATION TO:
Please identify your email ROSARY MUSEUM so it is not deleted by mistake.
Mail information and images to:

beadsong@hotmail.com

~ VISITOR COMMENTS ~

... I'll be back ...
De Colores: Thank you  for the information/research on the History of the Rosary. I have been asked to make a presentation on the Holy Rosary to my fellow paritioners Cursllistas de Christiandad and you info is great. I'll be back for additional information. My prayers and appreciation.
 Joe Noriega

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