HUGE prayer ? beads

I’m clueless as to if these beads are something or nothing.
The look like prayer beads but enormous. Some sort of resin or plastic?
Strung on fishing wire but no idea if that’s original. Any help please
Thankyou.

 

Wondering if they are Bakelite?

 

I have seen those huge worry beads in Greece. I think the Komboloi Museum also has some. Komboloi is the Greek word for worry beads.
I think bakelite, but I am not a bakelite expert.

 

A whole museum full
These are so huge you could do yourself a mischief worrying them!
So if Bakelite are they likely 30’s/40s?
I’ve googled and can’t find any quite this big

 

They remind me of spinach, I don't like spinach but I like yours.

 

I’m not in love with mine!
Ugly things they are

 

Nah not ugly. I like the swirls of color. Spoken like a NOT joolie.

 

@KSW - Check out this Wikepedia page. There is a chart of colors about 1/3 of the way down on the right. I think #3 or #7 could be a match for your beads.

What did you use to do the test?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bakelite

 

They look like bakelite to me. Try using good old sodium bicarbonate on your q-tip and hold up to your nose when you rub. If they're bakelite they'll stink of formaldehyde.

 

I used sodium bicarbonate so think this is a positive. I don’t have any simichrome as you can’t get it in the Uk.

 

Looking good! Thankyou.

 

I’ve been Googling but I can’t find anything like these beads in this colour way or this size.
Can someone explain what Faturan is as that word pops up all the time combined with Bakelite. Are they two different things? The internet goes a bit secret squirrel as to exactly what Faturan is
I put them on a FB site to ask if anyone had any link them and immediately had 3 private offers to buy them……

 

Maas polish will work.

 

Can't say I'm surprised. Faturan collectors can be a bit rabid.

 

This Wikipedia article seems pretty straightforward.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faturan

BTW if these were mine I post them on eBay, give them a heads up that they were listed & let them all fight over them.

 

Good plan!

 

Beat me to it: Maas will indeed work and you can buy it here.