Featured Bootsale beads & brooch

Hi folks

a few bits and pieces i picked up at the bootsale at the weekend

the black beads i'm guessing are some kind of prayer beads ?

think the other ones are coral of some kind

the winnipeg is marked sterling but can't work out what it says above the sterling mark

there are also initials around the edge

any thoughts or info appreciated

 

Dyed sponge coral, I’d say.

The initials are a couple, presumably. word is Dingwall who were a Winnipeg company. http://www.phoenixmasonry.org/masonicmuseum/dingwall_spoon_collection.htm

 

I have that maple leaf pin but mine says Montreal. My mother's family was from Quebec mostly but when I was a kid we traveled up to Canada a lot.

 

Yes, they are. Could be bakelite or something similar, made to look like a Yemeni inlaid black coral tasbih.

Yes, 'apple coral' which is sponge coral.

 

The orange ones look like tiny cherry tomatoes. Very nice.

 

very helpful thanks obb

 

Awesome thanks Aj

 

I’ve a couple of those Canadian brooches, but not with place names.