The 1800s Aluminum Story

Although aluminum is viewed as a cheap metal today, one that is virtually tossed away with the garbage, this hasn't always been the case. Collectors of antiques have some appreciation for the change in this metal's status over the centuries. Despite this, there is little market for aluminum objects, even those of superior workmanship and beauty.


If you read The Lost Symbol, you may have noticed the rather odd references to the high value of aluminum in the 1800s. This honestly was the case. Aluminum was a new and unique metal, durable, lightweight, and resistant to tarnishing. At the time, it was considered quite rare and valuable. The very top of the Washington Monument is overlaid in aluminum; it catches the sunlight and shines like silver. Although it is the most common element in the rocks of the earth, efficiently extracting it from the ore was puzzling and expensive, prohibiting its mining and use. Unlike silver and gold that occur in veins, aluminum is bonded to other elements in the rock, making extraction difficult.


For rosaries and religious medals, aluminum was highly prized during the late 1800s. Medals were lightweight and could be made with details not possible with other materials. Centers and crucifixes were made of aluminum in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Today they aren't appreciated, but at the time, their intricate details were considered the latest technology and were quite desirable. Many antique rosaries have aluminum medals attached; they were prized for their beauty.


Collectors of religious medals can get fantastic bargains if they branch into antique aluminum medals. Owners and collectors of antique rosaries can gain a new appreciation for the metal when they consider how impressive it was at the time the rosary was created.


I rarely have aluminum medals or rosaries on my website; I am aware of the prejudice against the metal and how it affects the choices collectors make. I'd like to see the day when it is recognized for its historic value and appreciated for the role it played in advancing the technology of 19th century religious artifacts.

 Sweet little French rosary with coral red glass beads. Below is a Pocket Saint with brass case, the statue of Mary and Child is aluminum. These were treasured by soldiers and travelers as they could be kept safely in a pocket.

The two medals attached to this lovely old Irish Horn rosary are both aluminum. Note the crisp detail on the medals. Available on The Sacred Bead.

 This is a lovely example of an antique French rosary with aluminum crucifix and art glass beads. It is quite a bargain on The Sacred Bead!

Antique Strung Rosaries

Although unfamiliar to the eyes of rosary users in the United States, antique strung rosaries are common in Europe and descended from the earliest of rosaries. Wiring a rosary didn't come into fashion until the 1700s so in the vast history of prayer beads, it is a rather modern development! The common 5decade rosary is frequently found strung in France, Belgium and Germany, but the most famous of the strung rosaries are the 5 and 6 decade rosaries from Bavaria with their gorgeous antique filigree silver crosses and Pater beads. Note the second cross above the main cross- this is the Credo Cross. Some of the main crosses have enamel on copper inserts, the oldest of these have wood and mother of pearl crosses in the center of the silver filigree. Because of the amount of use these rosaries got, the string would often break and need to be replaced. Sometimes beads were lost and replaced over the decades. This is just part of them being authentic antique rosaries.These are truly collector rosaries, yet are still produced in Bavaria and are exceptional in their beauty.
Fifteen decade antique strung rosaries can be found in France, often with wood or bone beads.

 This is a beautiful example of an antique Bavarian rosary. Several beads have been replace on this one and the string may be from the mid-1900s, but the rosary originated in the 1800s. This one is a six decade rosary, quite common with Bavarian Rosaries. Find original antique Bavarian rosaries at The Sacred Bead.

 Beautiful silver and enamel work highlight the main cross. Note the smaller Credo Cross.

 This is a simpler antique Bavarian rosary without the enameled inset in the cross.

 From the 1800s, this full 15 decade antique French rosary has bone beads and bone cross with a brass corpus. Lovely antique rosary, still intact after more than a century!

Sweet little Belgian strung rosary. I believe the beads on this one and the cross are celluloid or similar early man-made material. I just love the little bow that has been tied there for decades. Currently, this is the featured rosary on The Sacred Bead.

A Magnificent Givre Bead and Sterling Rosary

Without a doubt, this is one of the most fabulous rosaries I've had. Note the hand cut givre beads with a black core and clear outer layer. I believe these are Murano glass beads, made on the famous glass-making island of Murano Italy, renowned for its centuries of bead making. Along with the incredible beads, this large rosary has all sterling metal parts. Especially gorgeous is the large detailed crucifix and the lovely spacers on either side of the Pater beads. Each exquisite spacer is detailed with a rose and leaves. This is an exceptional antique rosary, beautiful and finely crafted. It would make a spectacular gift, to be treasured for a lifetime. This lovely rosary is from France, where some of the world's finest rosaries have been produced.


I never clean or polish rosaries, you will see that the silver has an antique patina. The new owner may polish or not depending on their tastes.
See this and all my other fine antique rosaries on The Sacred Bead, the largest source for antique, vintage, and designer rosaries on the internet!

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.

Antique WWI and WWII Rosaries for Soldiers

 Note that all the centers on the Antique WWI rosaries are the same. Each one has a profile of Mary on one side and Jesus carrying the cross on the reverse. Every single one of the rosaries has this center. The crucifix is entirely another story. They vary greatly, from wood crucifixes to simple brass ones.


Accurate histories of rosary types are very difficult to come by- there are few with general knowledge on this topic, as rosaries have only recently become collector items. Prior to modern times they were solely devotional objects, and these soldier's rosaries exemplify that. These were official issue rosaries during WWI. The story goes that so many were produced there were plenty remaining up until WWII. Made to be durable, they are constructed of "pull chain" designed metal balls. Nearly indestructible, they were carried by our soldiers to battle.


Because of their extreme durability, they make wonderful rosaries for daily use. I have seen similar versions coming from nun's estates. Perhaps they were given to an aunt or sister who was a nun by returning soldiers, or maybe some were intentionally made for convent use.


Currently, I have one that has an old field repair on The Sacred Bead. This one is very special, as it must have quite a story to tell. It needs to go to a WWI history buff or someone who appreciates the endurance and devotion that rosaries have had. They are not all shiny and new! Many of the antique rosaries on my website have had over a century of loving use and repairs. But, that is the only WWI rosary I have ever seen with a repair, testifying to their extreme durability.


Most of these rosaries are solid brass. A few have silver plating, these are said to be the ones reserved for the chaplains. Some are worn through the plating, again testifying to their endurance. With constant handling, the old patina on the brass is gently worn away and they begin to glow again. I never clean rosaries, leaving that to the new owner. Some like the original patina, others like a polished look. These are absolutely gorgeous when polished. Although I have seen some sellers claiming the silvered ones to be sterling, none are marked sterling and they were made after the laws went into affect that silver and gold must be marked. I doubt that there are any that are sterling, so beware of sellers claiming that one is solid silver. Testing silver only reveals the surface material so silver plate will test the same as solid silver unless a file mark is made through the plating- which of course, ruins the rosary.

Czech Art Glass Beads on Antique Rosaries

 Beautiful blue beads with a bit of iridescence; each has a cross image inside the glass. Superb example of the skill of Czech bead makers.

 Antique French rosary with extra medals and delightfully subtle caramel colored, molded glass beads.

 Incredible deep caramel color swirled Czech glass beads adorn this antique rosary at The Sacred Bead.

 Lovely violet and pink beads.

 

Exceptional Czech art glass beads made to resemble precious tiger eye. These beads fool many who think they are natural stone rather than glass.

 Beads are in the shape of roses- just lovely combined with the enamel work and extra medals between each decade.

 This type of bead was made to resemble natural gemstones- many owners and sellers of these rosaries do not realize that these are art glass beads and believe they are natural stone. They were produced in a wide range of colors to mimic tiger eye, carnelian, and agate. The clue is the light band around the equator of each bead- natural stone will not have that. Absolutely gorgeous beads! If you are thinking about buying an antique rosary, find an exceptional number of beautiful antique rosaries in all price ranges on The Sacred Bead.

Czech bead makers have been masters of interesting beads, molded beads that resemble everything from cats to roses, and art glass beads with swirling colors. Long established as a source of glass beads, Czech beads were a popular trade item to Africa and Asia. Beads resembling coral, agate, and amber were highly regarded by those who couldn't afford the real material.
Antique French rosaries often have Czech beads as they are beautiful and were not overly expensive. Fine bead stores today have a multitude of interesting Czech beads- it is interesting to see that many bead makers are still producing the same beads that they were 100 years ago!

Coral Rosaries Antique and Modern

Nothing is more beautiful than a coral rosary with colorful beads from the sea. Long treasured for its health giving and mystical qualities, coral was highly prized during Victorian times and many lovely rosaries from this time, most of French origin, still exist today. Often one of the first gifts for an infant, coral was believed to protect the baby from harm. Although we seem to have lost this view of coral in the modern world, it is still strong in many cultures around the world. Protection from illness and the evil eye and other spiritual harms were its primary function. Now, we tend to love coral simply for its beauty. Shown below are two modern rosaries, using deep red dyed coral, and two lovely antique French rosaries with natural undyed coral.

The modern rosaries are made of sponge and bamboo corals, dyed to give the naturally white coral its color. There is nothing wrong with modern dyed coral, but it is important to be aware of the differences between antique natural coral and modern dyed coral.

Antique rosaries have natural Mediterranean coral beads, they are the natural color and are quite rare. The beauty of the coral is unsurpassed. Highly protected, natural red coral is expensive and precious today, even more so than in the past. Modern beadworkers and rosary makers generally use the dyed coral from the Pacific due to its availability and economy. The prices for modern dyed coral beads are just a fraction of what the price for authentic red coral would be. Because of its scarsity, natural red corals are both protected and products made from them regulated. Each country has laws regarding the importation of natural red coral and other natural corals.

Care should be taken when purchasing a coral rosary- be sure the seller knows if the beads are really coral. Many people are fooled by the glass and celluloid beads that were made to resemble coral. The colors were quite accurately reproduced, made specifically to look like the much more valuable coral. Looking at the beads with a hand lens lets you know if the beads are natural coral. Tiny growth lines are visible inside the coral, this is not visible in glass or celluloid. Many of the antique beads are also hand cut, especially the tiny ones common on rosaries. They will have a rounded, yet not perfect, shape.

The rosaries shown below are all available on The Sacred Bead. Look in the antique sections for authentic antique coral rosaries and in the designer section for modern coral.

The top two pictures are of a lovely modern, strung rosary using a deep red bamboo coral for the impressive beads.

The above two pictures are a modern rosary with beautifully dyed deep orange-red sponge coral.

This gorgeous rosary is a lovely Art Nouveau French rosary with natural Mediterranean coral beads in a lovely salmon color. Note the extra tiny medals on either side of the Pater beads, each has a profile of Jesus on one side and Mary on the other. This is a very rare and beautifully made rosary.  

Below is an early 20th century Art Deco natural coral rosary. 

Silver Rosaries, The Beauty of Precious Metals

Sterling silver rosaries are not only beautiful but highly collectible. From the first decade of the 20th century, US law required that all precious metals sold in the United States be marked for their silver purity. Markings such as 925 or Sterling are generally stamped into the metal itself. This is not always the case though as some rosaries and jewelry came with paper tags that are long gone. If you want to be 100% sure that the rosary is sterling, look for the stamp.
This can't be done though with antique rosaries over 100 years old as they generally were not marked. European silver may have complex hallmarks that can be found in books or websites devoted to silver hallmarks. The French used little punchmarks that sometimes are almost imperceptible and difficult to decipher. Look on the bail of French crucifixes for a little indentation- you may be able to see just that on the sterling and milk glass rosary pictured here- look hard between one o'clock and two o'clock on the bail and you can just see the little mark. There is another at three o'clock on the right bail of the center. These indicate the region of France where the rosary was made- if you can make out the punchmark! Other European silver may be marked with an 800 which is a little less pure than sterling which is 925, what we would call "coin silver." German markings are usually based on 16 units so you may see 13 or 14 indicating how many parts out of 16 are pure silver.
Silver plated rosaries that have been used often show a little of the metal beneath showing through- look for a hint of brass on the high spots where rubbing may have worn away the plating.
Many antique rosaries have had replacement crucifixes added over the years; sometimes the crucifix is silver but the center is bronze or brass. Knowing that a rosary is antique, it is generally not a detraction for there to be replacement parts- this just shows that the rosary was prayed upon and well loved.
You can find many beautiful sterling rosaries, antique and vintage on The Sacred Bead. Sterling and European coin silver have a gorgeous warmth when aged. I never polish rosaries that I sell, I always leave that to the discretion of the new owner. Try to avoid dipping antique silver as it may remove all the patina, use a gentle silver polish or just let the rosary start to glow again with use.

Silver Filigree Rosaries, Fabulous Spanish Colonial Style

These rosaries are simply gorgeous! They can be found with agate beads, mother of pearl, cut glass, and other quality materials, or as in this one, the beads are also silver filigree. Unlike most rosaries, these usually have extra filigree spacer beads above the center. Note that the center is a beautiful stylized M with three dimensional crown. The style is southern European and most likely made in Spain, Italy, or a country with Spanish influence. Most of this style were made near the end of the 19th century during the Victorian Era. I have seen a more modern example, it is in the gallery section on The Sacred Bead, that had moonglow lucite beads dating it to the middle of the 20th century. This is one of the most beautiful of the antique rosaries. For the high end collector or to use on rare occasions- because of their age I don't recommend daily use. Silver is a little soft and the links can be weak. This fabulous rosary can be found on the Antiques page 18 at The Sacred Bead.

Exquisite Mid-1800s French Rosaries

Some of the most exquisite rosaries are from the period the French refer to as the Napoleon III Era. From 1848 to 1870, Napoleon III reigned and rosaries were produced using the highest quality materials. Lapis lazuli, mother of pearl, French opaline glass, banded agate and other beautiful natural materials were combined with sterling for stunning rosaries that have never been surpassed in beauty.  

The following is a serious collector rosary from The Sacred Bead. It can be found on page 11 of the antique section. Although it is approximately 150 years old it is in incredible condition and could be used for daily prayer.

From the mid-1800s, the time of Napoleon III in France and the Civil War in the United States, comes this spectacular rosary of real opaline crystal and sterling. This is an incredibly handsome rosary with the subtlety of the beads and the glow of sterling. Note the gorgeous center with Mary, Mother of God, on one side and the Crucifixion on the other. The beads and cross are translucent with a hint of yellow when held to the light. Large and impressive, the rosary measures over 23" when laid flat and the crucifix is 2", not including the bail. The cross is made of carved opaline with sterling corpus. This is the fabulous opaline glass during its most popular time period, 1850s-1860s. The previous owner of this rosary has kept it in immaculate condition. This is truly a fabulous treasure for the serious collector.
Update- this beautiful and rare rosary was stolen. Shame!

The beautiful rare lapis and sterling rosary from the mid-1800s is now in a private collection.

The opaline crystal and banded agate beaded rosary is another example from the same time period in my private collection.