Blue Multicoloured Bead Rosary

This unusual glass rosary is made up of blue beads with a marbled effect showing flecks of other colours ending with an ornate crucifix. The rosary comes in a purple gift box with white satin lining printed with Westminster Abbey. The word rosary comes from Latin and means a garland of roses, the rose being one of the flowers used to symbolise the Virgin Mary. The rosary is a devotion in honour of the Virgin Mary. As a material object it is an aid towards saying these prayers in the proper sequence. The fingers are moved along the beads as the prayers are recited. By not having to keep track of the count mentally, the mind is supposed to be freed to meditate on the mysteries. The prayers that essentially compose the Rosary are arranged in sets of ten Hail Marys proceeded by one Lord's Prayer and followed by one Glory Be to the Father. During recitation of each set, known as a decade, thought is given to one of the Mysteries of the Rosary, which recall events in the lives of Jesus and Mary. Normally, five decades are recited in a session.

• Necklace measures 63.5cm with a 15cm long hanging cross section.