Featured Unusual black rosary beads

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


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.

 

Cat's eyes!

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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?

 

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.

 

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!!

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Baby oil is 98% mineral oil.

 

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.

 

Ditto. It is rust, so best treat it as rust, not as verdigris.

 

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.

 

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

 

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".

 

As in anti rust stuff?

Me too. I could end up destroying something that’s pretty unique

That’s really interesting.Off to Google marvering! Thankyou.

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

 

Yup, anti rust stuff.

I think serious age. Late 19th.

 

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!