Skulls on Antique Rosaries

 
Many antique rosaries used by nuns and priests had a carved bone, wood, ivory or other material skull attached, a Momento Mori, a reminder that we are mortal. The top two photos are from a European rosary from a convent and the skull does not appear to be bone, rather I believe it is jet, a very light carbonaceous natural material similar to coal that was highly prized during the late 1800's and used in mourning jewelry. Most antique "jet" beads are actually French jet, which is just black glass, this is because jet was rare and costly. This skull seems to be either bog oak or jet. The second skull is attached to a 15 decade rosary from a convent in Belgium. This rosary is now in a private collection. Note that the skull is of wood. This is the way authentic skulls should appear on the rosary, they are almost always attached as part of the chain, not dangling to the side.


Please be aware that there seems to be a rash of modern inexpensive Chinese/Tibetan bone skulls being added to historic rosaries. I get too many questions asking about the authenticity of skulls that interested buyers see on auction sites and it bothers me a lot that people are being deceived, whether intentionally or not. Please ask sellers questions about the origin of the skull, was it added recently? I have several modern rosaries in the designer section at The Sacred Bead that are made of modern bone skull beads, but there is no deception intended, they are modern, I made the entire rosary and I am not trying to pass it off as antique.


I firmly believe that antique rosaries should be left as they were found unless you are keeping them solely for yourself and then you may do as you please of course! The problem with this deceptive practice- adding skulls and other items and not explaining that they are recent additions- is the new buyer generally pays more because of the skull, medal, or the most recent addition I've been seeing is a red bead resembling a drop of blood, and they are sometimes led to believe that it is an original part of the rosary, which it may not be. I feel very strongly that sellers should know their materials and clearly explain any recent replacement parts or additions, assuring that the buyer knows exactly what they are getting. 


These are, of course, exceptional examples of skulls, not all the authentic original skulls of of this quality, some are much more humble. Remember that it is certainly worth the small effort to ask a seller if the skull is a recent addition.