Antique Mother of Pearl Art Deco Rosary
France, circa 1920–1935
An exquisite early twentieth century rosary composed of softly luminous mother of pearl beads, each individually linked along an aged metal chain.
At its heart is a small geometric Marian centerpiece, with the Virgin Mary depicted in profile on one side and Mary with the Christ Child on the other. Below hangs an unusually beautiful Art Deco crucifix, its architectural lines giving the traditional form of the cross the unmistakable geometry of the period.
The mother of pearl has mellowed beautifully with age. Rather than brilliant white, the beads move through shades of ivory, cream and pale gold, catching the light differently from one bead to the next. The darkened metalwork carries the patina of decades of handling and prayer.
Mother of pearl has long belonged to the material language of sacred objects. Born inside the shell and revealed slowly through layers, it seems especially suited to the rosary, a prayer itself built through repetition, one bead and one invocation at a time.
A devotional object that has survived approximately a century and still bears the evidence of having been held.
Important Note
All sales final, each piece is one-of-a-kind. Please note shipping options at checkout.
Antique Mother of Pearl Art Deco Rosary
France, circa 1920–1935
An exquisite early twentieth century rosary composed of softly luminous mother of pearl beads, each individually linked along an aged metal chain.
At its heart is a small geometric Marian centerpiece, with the Virgin Mary depicted in profile on one side and Mary with the Christ Child on the other. Below hangs an unusually beautiful Art Deco crucifix, its architectural lines giving the traditional form of the cross the unmistakable geometry of the period.
The mother of pearl has mellowed beautifully with age. Rather than brilliant white, the beads move through shades of ivory, cream and pale gold, catching the light differently from one bead to the next. The darkened metalwork carries the patina of decades of handling and prayer.
Mother of pearl has long belonged to the material language of sacred objects. Born inside the shell and revealed slowly through layers, it seems especially suited to the rosary, a prayer itself built through repetition, one bead and one invocation at a time.
A devotional object that has survived approximately a century and still bears the evidence of having been held.
Important Note
All sales final, each piece is one-of-a-kind. Please note shipping options at checkout.
