Antique Rosary Bloodstone and Silver European

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Antique Rosary Bloodstone and Silver European

About the Item

Hailing from the 1880s-1890s is this unusual and beautiful rosary from Europe —France, probably— created from hand-faceted bloodstone beads and silver in cherished (read: excellent) condition. Bloodstone is an especially interesting variety of agate. Its formal name is heliotrope, which does perhaps make it sound slightly radioactive (it's not, don't worry). Bloodstone is black-green jasper spotted with blood-red hematite. Historically, Christians believed the red "splashes" on the stone came from Jesus as he was being crucified and his blood was dripping onto the stones below the cross to which he was nailed. From a distance, the 59 beads —each of which possesses approximately 49 facets— offer the elegance of faceted black glass or crystal; the reflections of light are not bright white but silver. It's when you look closer that you see the "black glass" beads are, in fact, bloodstone. And this makes the rosary infinitely more interesting, both symbolically and visually. The metalwork is superior, with hand-engraving and piercing executed with precision. Even the small silver links that join the beads are hand-made, as no two links are precisely the same. I'm not Catholic and neither were my parents. Though when I was young, I attended Catholic Mass almost every Sunday with my mother. She loved the ceremony of the service and the iconography. I apparently inherited this appreciation from her because I am always on the prowl for beautiful crosses and rosary beads. It's unusual to find a stone-bead rosary in such excellent condition. I see no damage to the approximately 8.5mm beads. Rosaries were (and remain) profoundly personal items that were carried everywhere on a person's journey through life. This rosary undoubtedly meant a great deal to somebody, who ensured it remained in immaculate condition.

Metal:
Silver
Stone:
Agate
Stone Cut:
Bead
Weight:
53.39 g
Dimensions:
Length: 19.5 in (495.3 mm)
Place of Origin:
France
Period:
Late 19th Century
Date of Manufacture:
circa 1880s
Condition:
Excellent condition with no signs of damage or repair.
Seller Location:
Southbury, CT
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU158919579422