Featured Unusual black rosary beads

Discussion in 'Jewelry' started by KSW, Aug 15, 2022.

  1. KSW

    KSW Well-Known Member

    This appears to be part of a rosary. I’ve not seen beads like these before and I’m completely stumped.
    They are black glass with silver coloured discs embedded in them. The undamaged ones are completely smooth over the discs with no seams .
    Just wondered if you anyone knows where these beads originate or anything about them please?
    They are irregular sizes from 4-6mm.
    Any information would be very welcome.
    Thankyou :)
    05004D5B-93F5-4133-AD21-DA31A710F009.jpeg 786042CE-B2E7-44A8-9B86-51C77A36F194.jpeg B5527B87-2987-4816-814A-27F7CF3FB838.jpeg 374F74A9-D2EA-4C35-8507-594A031FC0FE.jpeg CDE5AA1F-E760-4FB4-ABC3-A895F3CC906F.jpeg
    AB3BD481-52D0-4690-BB07-5033768FD521.jpeg
    Edit, don’t know why the last photo is so out of focus as it was sharp. It gives an idea of the layout though.
     
  2. Ownedbybear

    Ownedbybear Well-Known Member

  3. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    The AM intertwined monogram is the 'Auspice Maria' symbol, which means you are now protected by the Virgin Mary.:happy:
     
  4. Lucille.b

    Lucille.b Well-Known Member

    How unusual. I've never seen beads like that. Beautiful.
     
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  5. KSW

    KSW Well-Known Member

    Yes! I’ve been waiting for her to do her stuff.
    I’d better make them wearable pdq.
     
  6. KSW

    KSW Well-Known Member

    I’ve just asked a bead expert on FB and he has no idea and has asked his Rosary expert friends but they don’t know either so maybe these are a bit of a one off?
     
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  7. evelyb30

    evelyb30 Well-Known Member

    I've never seen those before either. Not sure how to clean up the chain other than a mineral oil soak, but that might trash the beads.
     
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  8. KSW

    KSW Well-Known Member

    Hmm, I was wondering if I dared to vinegar soak them. Maybe I try a few and see what happens? Would mineral oil be more effective at cleaning? I’m not sure I even know what mineral oil is!!
     
  9. evelyb30

    evelyb30 Well-Known Member

    That looks like rust instead of greenies. Vinegar would make rust worse instead of better.
     
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  10. KSW

    KSW Well-Known Member

    Ah,ok. Wonder what mineral oil is sold as in the UK? @Ownedbybear ?
     
  11. evelyb30

    evelyb30 Well-Known Member

    Should be; it's a petroleum product often used to oil wood! At least here it is.
     
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  12. Hollyblue

    Hollyblue Well-Known Member

    Baby oil is 98% mineral oil.
     
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  13. Ownedbybear

    Ownedbybear Well-Known Member

    I'd go down the WD40 route. If you can find a wee wire brush, give that a go too. Hairdryer after. It's certainly rust, so vinegar isn't a thing.
     
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  14. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    Ditto. It is rust, so best treat it as rust, not as verdigris.;)
     
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  15. Lucille.b

    Lucille.b Well-Known Member

    I doubt there is an easy fix for the rust on this. It may have pitted the surface of the metal so even if you could remove the rust, the surface could have issues.

    You could try full cleaning on a link or two, and just see how it comes out. I would be a little nervous getting those beads wet with much. The little inserts could crumble out, etc.

    Maybe struck by lightening for saying this, but I'd probably just harvest the beads.
     
    Last edited: Aug 16, 2022
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  16. Ownedbybear

    Ownedbybear Well-Known Member

    If you're fairy fingered, then once you've removed the rust you could brush on some clear inhibitor solution.
     
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  17. 2manybooks

    2manybooks Well-Known Member

    I can't say I have seen similar beads, but they look like hand made wound beads. The reflective bits would have been marvered in - while still hot and slightly soft, the beads would have been rolled over the reflective bits (or each individually placed), and then smoothed out on a "marver".
     
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  18. KSW

    KSW Well-Known Member

    As in anti rust stuff?
    Me too. I could end up destroying something that’s pretty unique :nailbiting:
    That’s really interesting.Off to Google marvering! Thankyou.

    Any clues from the metal work as to their age please?
     
  19. Ownedbybear

    Ownedbybear Well-Known Member

    Yup, anti rust stuff.

    I think serious age. Late 19th.
     
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  20. wlwhittier

    wlwhittier Well-Known Member

    Here's what y'do: put the rosary in a 2 cup pyrex measuring cup. Add ordinary vinegar to just cover, then fill with hot tap water. Leave it for an hour, take a look; most of that brown rust will be gone, but if not, give it a little more time. Dump the acid solution and flush-rinse 2 or 3 times with hot water, then when the cup is empty, add a tablespoon of Arm & Hammer or any other brand of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate). Leave it for a few hours, giving it time to thoroughly get into the holes in the beads. That step is to neutralize any remaining acid on the steel chain, especially the inaccessible links within those beads. When this neutralizing step has done its work, another 2 or 3 flush-rinses, then a thorough drying to include 15 minutes in a toaster oven or such at ~150F. When they cool completely, work some light machine oil (3-in-1 or equivalent) into the steel with an old toothbrush to prevent recurrence of the oxidation. Wipe 'em down with an old terrycloth tool or washcloth to remove excess oil.

    This process may have some effect on the damaged discs...but I saw very few of those. Good luck!
     
    KSW likes this.
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