Rosary, 'Mary Rose' -2 c.1545

All of our prayer beads are based on extant originals and/or visual examples. This group patterned after the rosary in the collection of the Mary Rose Trust, Portsmouth, England. (Shown in main photo). 

In 1538, injunctions of Henry VIII's religious reforms banned the use of the rosary to pray mechanically and in 1547 all use of the rosary was condemned. Yet when the Mary Rose sank in July 1545 this simple set of prayer beads was on board. When she was raised from the Solent in 1981, they were found inside a closed cabin which was determined to have belonged to the ship's carpenter.  It is unknown whether the carpenter was still a practising Catholic but it is assumed they were still in use.

• Medium brown wood beads and gauds, wood cross, brown cord
• 10mm counters, 14mm gauds, 1.75” cross
• 12” long, overall

Rosary comes with storage bag and information about religion and the use of prayer beads in medieval Europe. Sheet also contains the Pater Noster and Ave Maria prayers in Latin. 

For more general information on our prayer beads, please see the main section page as well as General Information

PLEASE NOTE: These are individually hand made by Gwen and as such are one of a kind items.  If the number does not appear in the drop down menu, it has been sold and is no longer available.  Although it is unlikely that a style can be duplicated exactly, it may be possible to create something similar. Please contact us with your needs and we'll do our best to help.