Circa late 1800's, this scarce exquisite antique rosary is a personal and pilgrimage rosary. It is also a rosary whose previous owner had devotion to the Mother of Perpetual Help. Attached to it also is a remembrance of the First Communion and a pilgrimage medal. This rosary is also made of mid to end of 19th century black glass beads that has stopped being produced by about 1900. In my search for information about antique and vintage rosaries, I also found it helpful to study the history of antique beads, which in itself is also an interesting subject. From about the mid to late 1800's, there was a mass production of glass beads in Bohemia, usually made by Germans, imitating natural materials such as gemstones. Thus, there was big production of glass beads imitating for instance lapiz lazuli, carnelian, garnet and corals (the last two which were very depleted by then), and others. By the onset of the next century, these imitation glass beads has come to a full stop. This rosary is made of black glass beads perhaps to imitate natural jet or black onyx. This is also an exquisite rosary for its composition: the 'puffed heart' center medal, scarce antique medals made of 'antique aluminium', stirling silver/with gilt and very high silver. Overall, this antique rosary is of high quality that can be passed on to the next generation if you want to. For the collector of rosaries and antique medals, this devotional item says it all! All components of this rosary are original to it. Everything in this rosary is also in excellent antique condition. Please enjoy all the details of this scarce antique rosary:
Crucifix: made of high silver metal. There is no hallmark on this cross but is of high quality silver. Size: 3.5cm (including bale) x 2cm.
Links: made of stirling silver double-links chain. All links are all original and are in excellent working prayerful condition.
Center Medal: is made of handmade 'puffed heart' medal engraved with the initials J and M, for JESUS and MARY. This type of center medal is common to antique medals made around this era. The monograms of Jesus and Mary are shown side by side together to signify the dual role of Mary and Jesus, Blessed Mary as Mother of God and for her willingness to give her son for the salvific act of Jesus. The center medal is made of two half-moulded heart that has been soldered on the sides. This particular rosary is not only in excellent condition because of its components but because this 'puffed' heart has been spared from bumps and 'accidents' when most antique rosaries have had damage or dents. There is no hallmark on this center medal but it is of high quality silver. Both sides of medal are reversible. Size: 20mm x 15mm
Beads: are made of round hand-faceted black glass beads that are made to look like a natural material. The beads are made with some tiny holes and inclusion to look natural. I surmise that it could have been made to look like jet or perhaps black onyx. There is a slight weight on this rosary because of the beads itself. Although the beads look all the same sizes, they are actually very irregular in shapes which means they have been hand-faceted. All beads are in perfect condition. Size: 8mm
Medals: Notice all the details on all medals:
a) First Communion medal: hallmarked stirling silver medal with rose gilt in the middle. This is a special handmade medal from shape to engraving and finish. The rose gilt image is that of the Holy Eucharist engraved with the image of wheat on the left side used for the making of the holy bread. On the right side is the engraved image of a branch of grapes for the making of the holy wine. This type of medals are only seen in antique rosaries. The reverse side of the medal informs us of the details who received the First Holy Communion, a certain M. THIVIN, born on 17 of the 8th (August) of 86 (1886). There is a Crab hallmark on the bale indicating 800/1000 silver. Size: 19mm
b) Notre Dame Du Mont Carmel-in Saurier, France. A pilgrim wrote:
"A magical site! The chapel is perched on its basalt peak 927 meters above sea level. From there, the view is absolutely beautiful: we embrace the Auvergne with the chain of Puys, the massif of Sancy, the valley of Couze Pavin.
The chapel is accessible on foot, of Romanesque foundation, it dates from the 17th and 19th century. On the site, we discover an altar in the open air. Many faithful go on pilgrimage every year in July.
An orientation table describes the panorama. The interior of the church is visible through a grid."
The reverside side features the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It is marked: COR JESUS SACRATISSIMUM MISERERE NOBIS (Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Have Mercy On Us).
This medal is made of antique aluminium.
Size: 18mm
c) Mother of Perpetual Help-marked 'SANCTA MARIA ORA PRO NOBIS (Holy Mary, Pray For Us). Reverse side is that of: St Gerard Majella, a Redemptorist brother or from the Congregation of the Redeemer. It is marked: SANCTA GERARDE MAIELLA ORA PRO NOBIS ( Saint Gerard Majella Pray For Us). St Gerarde died of tuberculosis at the age of 29 in 1755. He is the patron saint of children and childbirth, mothers especially expectant mothers, motherhood and of falsely accused people. Please read on St Gerard. This medal is made of high silver and is marked 900 on the bale. Note how detailed this medal is. Note how you can actually see the loose sandal of the baby Jesus on the picture. To appreciate this special medal, please see the symbols and meanings of the icon of the Mother of Perpetual Help. Size: 27mm
Length: 54cm or 21 1/4 inches
59 beads
I will give a 10 % discount for a purchase of 3 listings on buttons and fashion accessories. This promo is cancelled when another promo is on. If you have a particular requirement as to style, colour, use, size and others, please do not hesitate to let me know. For a quick search on buttons, please type in the ‘search’ box ANY OF THE FOLLOWING WORDS BEFORE THE WORD ‘button’ or ‘buttons’: coat, jacket, cardigan, blouse, dress, shirt, craft, collectible, haute couture, high fashion, metal, button in card, unisex, Mother of Pearl or MOP, corozo, tagua, vegetable ivory, assorted or replacement. For sizes of buttons: up to 20mm-small, 21mm to 30mm-medium, 31mm to 40mm-big, 41mm to 50mm-huge. Kindly ask if you want more or less of the listed button items.
To get an idea of the size of the rosary, kindly be guided by the following: Small: up to 15 inches long; Medium: 16 to 19 inches long; Large: 20 to 25 inches long; Huge: over 25 inches long. The rosary’s length is measured laid flat on table as if hanging on a nail.
All jewelry are cleaned and will be cleaned again for you before sending.
Note that the 10 cents coin featured in the listings is 23mm or 2.3 cm in size.
Since my promo is out of the normal system of ebay selling and to get your 10% discount, the easiest way to avail of it is to pay the full price, then I will refund your discount including excess postage via Paypal. This ensures you have bought your item. I will confirm refund amount to you and said amount will be reflected in your Paypal account at least within 3 working days. There is a very negligible fee to process this. Kindly email me upon purchase to know the full amount of your discount.
Alternatively, you can email me for EACH ITEM you want BEFORE purchase so I can edit the prices with the corresponding discount and combine postage but you may risk missing out on the item in case somebody buys the item ahead of you.
Many thanks for your understanding!
TERMS AND CONDITIONS:
Please pay within 3 days of purchase. Purchased item will be mailed after payment is cleared. Payment via Paypal only. Non-payment after 3 days will mean change of mind and I reserve the right to relist item.
Most of the items I sell are antique or vintage items. They have traits and traces consistent with time, use and age. Remember too that items are magnified in pictures. Please consider these characteristics before you decide to buy. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to send an email. I will be most glad to answer any enquiry.
I give enormous time to research, organise, describe, take pictures and give as much details to buyers. Please read descriptions carefully before making your purchase. Pictures are part of the description. Please examine them carefully before making your purchase. Refund of item is possible only if item received is NOT according to description. There is NO refund nor exchange for change of mind or for buyer’s remorse on purchased item. I do not give refund for items that arrived damaged. I take a great deal of effort in packaging items to be sent and what happens to item while in transit is out of my control. In the event that ebay decide I should refund, refund will only apply to items covered by insurance or that sent via registered with tracking and signature delivery. In the event of a refund as deemed necessary by ebay, item has to be sent back to me within 7 working days.
This store offers the cheapest possible postage to deliver your item. For your benefit, I always combine postage. Items will be send registered upon request. For non-rosary items and for U.S. buyers, mail with tracking and signature is approximately AUD $ 25.00. If you want to save costs on postage, please understand that seller will have no responsibility if item is lost or damaged in transit. A non-registered or non-tracking postage/shipping would mean non-responsibility on the part of the seller if item is lost or damaged in transit. Buyer also understand and accept this risk upon purchase. A proof of mail and postage is happily submitted upon request. Seller, buyer and ebay all benefit with this offer of cheaper postage. Most buyers are honest and so far, all items purchased in this store have all been received locally and overseas. In cases of suspicious claims of non-delivery and non-receipt of purchase, this store will earmarked buyer and will be blocked for any future purchase when necessary.
Rosaries will be mailed via registered mail with tracking and signature only. Non-rosary items like buttons are quoted in standard postage. Please note that there is no pick-up of items but only delivery through the post.
Your custom is very important to me. Please let me know if there has been any error, misunderstanding or problem in this transaction. We will try to work out something to solve any problem. With due respect and consideration to everyone, we can build a lasting selling/buying relationship.
Best of all, please buy with confidence. Many of the items I am selling now are part of my collection for decades. They represent my lifetime’s collection. The majority of them are a one-off piece and if there are duplicates, it would be in small number. I have now decided to part with and share them to those who would love them as much as I did.