A Sweet Antique Rosary - French Ivory made of Early Celluloid

What is French Ivory? Antique beads, hair accessories, dresser sets were all made of French Ivory and are collector items today. This faux ivory, created from celluoid, is a man made early plastic  created to simulate expensive ivory. Discovered in the mid-1800s it was popular during the later half of the 19th century and into first few decades of the 20th century. The beads, the center and the crucifix on this lovely old rosary all have banding that resembles the graining found in real ivory. I believe this rosary is from the 1920s through 1940s based on the style of link- it's sometimes very hard to date a rosary though, it could be earlier. This is the sweetest little rosary- perfect for the rosary collector! Quite unusual and hard to find, it is in excellent vintage/antique condition. See this rosary and many other antique rosaries on The Sacred Bead- the largest collection of fine antique and vintage rosaries for sale on the internet.

Note the beautiful sterling and enamel French medal of Lourdes on this adorable rosary. The crucifix is hand carved- my camera couldn't get the detail. 

This rosary is now on special on Antiques page 5 at The Sacred Bead.

More Strange Doings on eBay

I recently got an email from a lady thanking me for my posts on the added skulls and drop of blood beads on eBay. I love to head over to eBay and check out what is going on there, but I see more and more that disturbs me lately. Recently I've seen a good number of rosaries described as "vintage" or "antique" that are completely altered by the seller- completely! Although the seller states that some items on the rosary may have been added after the rosary was made, what I am seeing are completely reworked, altered rosaries. This would be fine if they were being sold as "altered" but they are not. They are listed as vintage rosaries or antique rosaries. 

I know it is tempting for sellers to try to find a "trick" to make their rosaries sell well, but it is a dishonest practice to represent any completely reworked item as truly vintage or antique. I also am seeing that the sellers doing these additions and alterations tend to wrap themselves in a cloak of religion. I find this quite disturbing, adding to their deceptive practices.

The result is to prey upon inexperienced buyers who are not familiar enough with true antique rosaries to know the difference. This is deception, and the buyers are unaware they are purchasing something that is not an antique rosary. They may be even more persuaded to buy due to the seeming religious atmosphere built by the sellers in their auctions.

How can a collector protect themselves? The lady who wrote to me said she would never buy on eBay again after she finally got the seller to confess that she had added and changed the rosary. There are hundreds of sincere sellers on eBay, maybe thousands, so it's only a few who are ruining the experience for rosary collectors.

When you purchase an antique rosary, there is usually the intention of passing the rosary down through the family. This is even more upsetting to me, as these beloved descendants will have something that is not really an authentic antique rosary, rather a 21st century rosary that might have vintage beads or some other parts.

Protect yourself by learning everything you can about authentic antique rosaries. Know the styles, know what is common and what is so odd that it just can't be authentic. Watch a wide variety of auctions, watch prices. The biggest clue is if one seller has rosary after rosary that has a feature that no other rosary you've ever seen has, then something just isn't right. I'm seeing modern brass/bronze filigree findings adhered to vintage crucifixes, strange dangly things, centers that are definitely not antique, numerous drop of blood beads and the ever-popular Chinese skull beads from Buddhist malas added to rosaries. 


All of this is just fine if the seller is honest and calls these rosaries altered or modern reworks. Some are quite interesting and beautiful, but they are not authentic antique rosaries. Once the center and crucifix have been replaced, new medals attached, Chinese bone skull beads attached and whatever else- the rosary is no longer considered an antique rosary.

Hopefully, I have armed you with some knowledge and you will be able to spot these deceptive practices. If in doubt, write to the seller, asking if the ornaments on the rosary, crucifix and center are original to it. If they aren't, then you have the knowledge you need to make a decision about bidding on the rosary.

I'd love to add pictures, but I'm not going to. I don't want to single out any particular sellers. I would just like to see buyers who are fully aware of what they are buying so I don't have more people writing about their disappointing eBay experiences.

Just a reminder- nothing is ever altered at The Sacred Bead. Antique rosaries are just the way I found them- I don't even clean them, as some collectors want them in their complete antique state! Nothing is ever added or altered unless a small repair is required- and if it is, I will always state that. I try to thoroughly research every rosary and give the most accurate information possible. If I don't know something for sure, I will always say! Feel free to email me at The Sacred Bead if you'd like me to preview a rosary for you or have any questions. I've been doing a lot of previewing lately and I'm always happy to provide that service!

Lots of Antique Crucifixes on The Sacred Bead!

 

Fabulous Antique Crucifix with Skull and Crossbones from Europe. This is over 5" tall! If you want to buy an antique crucifix, look on The Sacred Bead- don't wait if you see something you love- everything is definitely one of a kind and when it's gone, it's gone!

 Vintage French Rosary Ring

 Beautiful old cross with Our Virgin of Guadalupe- this is made of silver and glass- just lovely!

 Old gilt brass Byzantine style relic crucifix.

 Incredible antique silver filigree cross!

 Gorgeous vintage Zuni silver and turquoise cross.

 Antique crucifix from France- 1800s!

 Beautiful sliding medal with relic from St. Anne de Beaupre in Canada.

 Sterling St Christopher medal dated 1950 on the reverse. Wonderful old religious medal.

 Antique crucifix from France. Crucifixes with the skull and crossbones are highly sought after.



I am currently working on updating and adding to the antique crucifixes on The Sacred Bead. If you are looking for an antique crucifix or an unusual vintage crucifix be sure to look in the newly expanded "Antique Crucifixes and Medals" section. In addition to antique crucifixes, I am adding antique and vintage religious medals and other religious artifacts. As usual, I seem to prefer items from Europe but I'm trying to find and add all kinds of crucifixes and crosses including some vintage turquoise and silver crosses. Visit The Sacred Bead and enjoy the new antique crucifixes and medals section! If you are looking for the perfect antique rosary for sale or a beautiful antique crucifix, look no further than The Sacred Bead!

Fabulous Antique 15 Decade Wooden Pilgrim Rosary Covered with Medals!

This is an absolutely wonderful rosary dating from sometime in the 30s to 50s and holding 15 medals that commemorate journeys to Christian sacred sites. What a wonderful piece of history. I'm proud to present this incredible rosary on The Sacred Bead! This is a complete, 15 decade rosary, difficult to find without all the medals. In addition to the medals it also has an inlaid crucifix with skull and crossbones at the foot of the cross.
At each Pater bead, a medal has been attached with an S-loop link and jump ring. There are four medals from Lourdes, an aluminum crucifix and an additional 10 medals. They include a beautiful one from Rome with Pope Pius XI who was Pope from 1922-1939. There is an Our Lady of Salette, Our Lady of Myans, a beautiful silver Guardian Angel and St. Joseph, St Christopher and more. Several are lovely blue enamel on metal. I'm including lots of pictures! If you want to buy an antique rosary, The Sacred Bead has one of the best selections on the internet!

 The inlaid crucifix with skull and crossbones along with some of the medals.

 Note the blue enamel medals. See this rosary and many, many other antique rosaries on The Sacred Bead.

This rosary is now on special on page 10 of the Antiques section at The Sacred Bead. Rosary has sold, thank you and hope you enjoy!

Simply a beautiful historic rosary- could easily be used daily as it has the extra-strong links that have double wire, these rarely come apart!

Antique and Vintage Rosaries as Wedding and Anniversary Gifts

As we approach June, I'm trying to provide a nice selection of antique and vintage rosaries that would be appropriate for wedding or anniversary gifts. I'm concentrating on antique sterling rosaries and lovely antique French rosaries for that someone very special! Nothing beats the beauty of an antique or vintage sterling rosary, but with silver prices soaring, many beautiful pieces of jewelry including rosaries are being melted down. This happened before in the 1980s, but this time may even be worse. It makes me just weep to think of beautiful rosaries being melted down for the metal. 
Back to the positive side, there really is nothing more lovely than a vintage silver and crystal rosary or a rare antique mother of pearl and silver rosary, so take a little time and look through The Sacred Bead enjoying the beauty of all the rosaries! You might find the perfect one for a gift or for yourself.

 Upliftingly lovely cut crystal and sterling rosary. As always, I never clean rosaries, leaving that to the new owner. All antique sterling rosaries should be cleaned with care to not damage beads of natural materials, such as coral or mother of pearl.

 Boldly beautiful, heavy sterling and black glass rosary with extra sterling medal. The reverse of this crucifix is quite amazing- be sure to go look. This is a wonderful vintage sterling rosary.

 Beautiful 1920s or 30s French mother of pearl and silver rosary.

 Refreshing spring green crystal and sterling antique French rosary.

 Astonishing carnelian and sterling French rosary from the 1800s.

 Incredible all sterling Wedding Bells vintage rosary. These are getting harder and harder to find!

 A very masculine Sterling and French Jet rosary from the 1960s or 70s.

1800s French mother of pearl and sterling rosary. Visit The Sacred Bead for the largest selection of antique and vintage rosaries on the internet.

Gorgeous Vintage Virgin of Guadalupe Rosary

This is such a special rosary with beautiful encased glass beads and a magnificent crucifix. Dating from the middle of the 20th century,  Our Lady of Guadalupe is featured on both the crucifix and reverse of the center. I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.

 Simply gorgeous crucifix with The Virgin of Guadalupe at the top.

 Lovely double capped, or encased, glass beads.

 

Our Lady of Guadalupe on the reverse of the center. See this wonderful rosary on The Sacred Bead.
It is told that the Virgin of Guadalupe appeared to the Aztec man Juan Diego on December 9, 1531 and again later when her image miraculously formed on his tilma or cape. He had gathered flowers from the hillside in the dead of winter at her direction in order to show the Bishop proof of his vision of the Virgin. She told him not to open the cape full of flowers until he was with the Bishop and when he arrived, low and behold, the flowers dropped to the floor and the famous image of the Virgin took their place on his cape. The Virgin of Guadalupe is called the Patroness of the Americas and is one of the most beloved images of the Virgin Mary.  Juan Diego was canonized in 2002.

Two Essential Tools For Antique Rosary Owners

I just picked up one of my own antique rosaries and lo and behold, it was in two pieces! I keep quite a few pairs of tiny round nosed pliers handy and within a minute or two I had it hooked back together. I would strongly advise all antique and vintage rosary owners to keep a little pair of round nosed pliers close by for small rosary emergencies. These are easy to find in a bead shop or online. Look for pliers for beaders, some are actually called rosary pliers or wire wrapping pliers. Be sure to get the round nosed ones so you don't damage the links on the rosary. My favorite pair is the tiniest one I have. Unfortunately, I don't remember where I got them or I would get another pair just like them- the diameter of the tips of the pliers are tiny and they are simply perfect for antique rosaries.
The other tool I use almost constantly is a good magnifying lens. Again, I have several, but my favorite is a small one with an LED light and stand. I can work under the lit lens perfectly. Others are used to help identify hallmarks or bead material. A good jeweler's loop works well for all purposes.

 

Interesting rosary with multicolored enamel spacers on The Sacred Bead. This isn't the one that needed the repair this morning, just thought a post without a picture would be rather boring!

Antique Rosaries from Lourdes

Undoubtedly the most frequently found rosaries from France, both new and antique, are the wonderful rosaries from the site of Mary's appearance to Bernadette Soubirous in 1858. Millions and millions of people have gone to Lourdes for healing, and there are over 60 officially recognized miraculous healings that have occurred at Lourdes in a century and a half. There may be thousands of unrecognized healings!
Most pilgrims come away with a souvenir of their journey to Lourdes, and rosaries from Lourdes have a long tradition of making a lasting reminder of a journey to the healing waters of Lourdes. Beautiful sterling and natural coral were popular yet expensive rosaries  during the 1800s. Rare and beautiful today, they were a true treasure then as they are now. More moderate rosaries had simple wooden beads and crucifixes. In the mid-20th century many crucifixes had a tiny vial of healing water from the Grotto of Lourdes embedded in the crucifix. One of the most interesting of the modern rosaries is the 100th anniversary of the apparition of Mary at Lourdes featuring little bubble beads made of lucite that were rumored to have been filled with healing water. Each of the Ave beads has a tiny blue Mary inside, while the Pater beads usually have the Sacred Heart of Jesus inside. Pictured are just a few rosaries from the famous Lourdes found on The Sacred Bead. The Sacred Bead has an amazing selection of antique rosaries for sale, also vintage rosaries and antique and vintage crucifixes.

 The famous 100th Anniversary Rosary from 1958, note the tiny blue images inside each bead and the grotto of Lourdes on the center.

 

This beautiful 1800s single decade sterling and mother of pearl rosary has "Lourdes" impressed on the back of the cross and would have been a treasured reminder of a pilgrimage to Lourdes. 

 Late 1800s French Jet (black glass) mourning rosary with ND de Lourdes imprinted on the back of the crucifix.

 Beautiful rosary from Lourdes. Note the lovely red faceted glass beads. See all of them on The Sacred Bead.

Antique Rosaries with Jet Beads

Jet beads are renowned as mourning beads, at the height of their popularity during Victorian times. But few of the black beads found on jewelry or rosaries are truly jet. More likely they are black glass, known as "French Jet." Other substances used to simulate jet included man-made compounds like gutta percha.


True jet is a carbonaceous mineral related to lignite coal. It is relatively soft for a gemstone and very light weight. Compared to glass, which is much heavier, true jet beads feel more like amber, another very lightweight natural substance.
Whitby jet was produced in the jet mines of England and is no longer a source for jet. Highly expensive and rare, Whitby jet was at its height of popularity during the reign of Queen Victoria, although jet has been used as an adornment since ancient times.
Today, most jet beads are produced in China and they are quite lovely.

This is a beautiful antique French mourning rosary using glass "French Jet" beads. You can find it on The Sacred Bead.

Buying an Antique or Vintage Rosary - An Eco-Friendly Choice

For some of us, concern for the environment is a life-long commitment, for others it is an equally heart-felt but new concern. It doesn't matter where you are on this spectrum, the important thing is that purchasing an antique or vintage rosary really is an eco-friendly choice. It is a form of effective concept of recycling and reusing an item rather than buying something new. The Sacred Bead has a wonderful selection of antique rosaries for sale to help you pick the perfect rosary for yourself or a friend.
Just think, there is no mining, no manufacturing, only transportation via the postal service. It drastically reduces your carbon footprint! Not only do you save resource and energy, you have a piece of history and an exceptional work of art unlike anything produced today. The Sacred Bead has the largest selection of antique and vintage rosaries in one place on the internet! So come visit and be a part of the growing green consumer revolution. Our beautiful planet appreciates every effort. I try to use recycled packaging materials whenever possible so don't be surprised if your rosary comes in a peppermint candy tin or is wrapped with slightly used bubble wrap!

 Coral reefs around the world are dying at an alarming rate. Antique rosaries have beautiful natural Mediterranean coral unlike the dyed coral used today. Coral harvesting is now regulated and restricted by law, so buying an antique coral rosary is the most ecologically sound way to have a rosary made of this incredibly beautiful natural material. This rosary is in a private collection.

 Beautiful antique rosary with red glass beads from France.

 Very unusual 1800s rosary with sterling, mother of pearl and antique glass beads.

 Fabulous antique rosary with lapis lazuli beads. The lapis mines in Afghanistan have been mined for thousands of years and are reaching the end of their existence. Deep blue lapis like this is almost impossible to get new.

This is a gorgous vintage sterling and crystal Creed rosary, a fabulous example of a beautifully preserved vintage rosary by one of the leading rosary manufacturers in the world. See dozens of unique antique and vintage rosaries at The Sacred Bead.

Time for Another Warning About Rosaries with Added Skulls on eBay

I know I've already posted about the several sellers on eBay who have added modern carved ox bone skulls made in China to vintage and antique rosaries AND not been honest about saying they are modern additions, but after searching rosary + skull on eBay tonight I see the trend seems to be expanding. Before you ever buy an antique or vintage rosary with an attached skull, look at the seller's other items. If you see rosary after rosary with little skulls hanging off of them, all looking very much like the little skulls that are from modern Buddhist malas or ones found in online bead stores, then you should question the seller about the time period that the skull was added to the rosary. I've actually asked several sellers, receiving no reply from one and an admission from another that yes, she adds them. Unfortunately, without asking, you probably won't be told this in the auction.
None of this wouldn't matter IF people knew that the skull is not original to the rosary. Adding a skull bead that cost mere pennies does not increase the value of a rosary by a hundred or more dollars. Bidding is fierce on some of these rosaries and it really disturbs me that people are paying their hard earned money for something that is not authentic.
I make new rosaries using skull beads, so I am quite familiar with them. I also have quite a few rosaries with authentic antique skulls attached in my private collection. There is an enormous difference between the two. You can see my prior post from November, 2010 for pictures of authentic skull beads and how they are attached to the rosary- they are not dangling from them!
I am also seeing a trend in attaching a small, deep red tear drop shaped bead and selling these as antique rosaries with a drop of blood bead. Again, if you see the same dealer with numerous rosaries with the same bead, attached in the same way, it is a good clue that it is a recent addition.
When you have a favorite rosary, you can add whatever you like to it to help with meditative prayer. It is selling the rosary without informing the buyer that it is a modern addition that seems less than honest.

Antique Rosaries With Mother of Pearl Beads

 Antique rosaries featuring mother of pearl beads have a delicate beauty as in this antique French MOP and gold gilt rosary from the beginning of the 20th century. It and the other rosaries featured can be found at The Sacred Bead. If you are thinking about buying an antique rosary, The Sacred Bead has one of the most extensive collections of beautiful antique rosaries in all price ranges on the internet!

 Lovely hand-cut mother of pearl beads show the reflective quality of natural shell. Note, both the center and crucifix are of mother of pearl.

 Very similar in style, but note the uniformity of the beads and difference in the style of chain- this is a slightly newer rosary than the one above.

 A true treasure-this beautiful antique rosary has a lovely shell case. Note the darker color of the shell used in this rosary and the unusual squared shape of the beads.

For millennium, people have made beads of shell. Some of the earliest beads found in archeological sites are drilled shell beads. The beauty and hardness of shell made it the perfect material for bead making. Mother of pearl, also called nacre, is from the shells of mollusks and is especially beautiful due to its iridescent reflectivity. The way it almost glows and changes appearance made it especially valued for not only beads but buttons, inlays in musical instruments and furniture and for many other decorative uses.
Cleaning mother of pearl rosaries should be done very carefully and with a minimum of product use. The only really safe thing is a gentle soap, not detergent, something like a bar of pure soap with a soft toothbrush is plenty. Wash your hands before touching mother of pearl or coral beads as the oils, lotions or other products can cause the beads to dull.
Antique rosaries from the 19th century were frequently made using mother of pearl beads. Some of the earlier rosaries used hand-cut beads, each of a slightly different shape and sometimes quite crude in appearance. Towards the end of the century and into the 20th century, most beads were much more uniform in appearance, many of them were machine cut. Sizes range from large beads, some over an inch in size for large processional rosaries, to tiny oval beads used on lovely antique rosaries with gold gilt or sterling silver metalwork. Some of the most beautiful rosaries have mother of pearl crucifixes and centers.

 Beautifully designed crucifix made of mother of pearl and silver above and a fabulous antique mother of pearl and silver, over 4" crucifix below. There were many faux MOP crucifixes made in the mid-20th century made of celluloid- meant to look like these authentic MOP crucifixes.

I will be adding many more antique French rosaries to The Sacred Bead in the coming month and many will have gorgeous antique MOP beads! Mother of pearl is one of my favorite natural materials, and the mysterious way it plays with light makes it a perfect material for meditative prayer.
I love answering questions about antique rosaries and will always answer them! Feel free to email me at The Sacred Bead. Visit the site and email from there please, you'll find a contact form and email links.