Some examples of 15-16th C prayer beads        
Updated 10/3/03 (also, see below for the "Madonna of the Rosary" image)

                                                                           

 

ABOVE: 3 artistic representation of single strand prayer beads. (l) detail from portrait of Hoccleve's Chaucer (15th C); (m) detail from "The Magdalen Reading,” by Roger van der Weyden, c. 1445. Several of the artist’s other paintings show similar translucent prayer beads. The beads may be meant to represent amber beads, which are mentioned in several 15th C wills I’ve read. (r) detail from "Portrait Diptych of Phillippe de Croy" by Roger van der Weyden, c. 1460. Note the introduction of a crucifix as pendant at one end. Also note the variation among the three in the number of Ave beads between each Paternoster bead.

 

   

Above: Details from portraits of the artist’s Father (l) and Mother (r),. By Albrecht Durer, 1490. The Durers are shown not just holding the beads, but are in the act of ‘telling’ them; they, like their son, were possibly members of the Society of the Rosary. Large, round coral beads, like those pictured on the left, appear with noticeable frequency in paintings, but never in long strands. Smaller beads, such as those on the right, tend to be seen making up 15 decade rosaries.

 

  

Portrait of a Young Lady, 1530, by Bartolomeo Veneto (at the National Gallery of Canada). Here an Italian woman wears her prayer beads around her neck.

 

"Paternoster pendant" in gold, onxyx, silver & enamel. Flemish or Burgundian, circa 1440-1450.
An example of a "Decade Ring," which could be used instead of a "payre of beads" to count the Aves/Paternosters associated with praying the Rosary. This one is English, circa 1500. (At the V&A)
Henry's VIII's single decade prayer beads. The beads are carved with scenes from the life of Jesus. The round bead above the crucifix pendant is an emerald. These date from before 1546.
Pendant for a "rosary" or chaplet. Carved ivory, circa 1500-1525. Franco-Flemish. Now at the Detroit Institute of Art.
   

 

 

 

 

The Madonna of the Rosary, 1539, by Lorenzo Lotto. Each of the roundels above Mary’s head depict the 15 different scenes from the life of Christ upon which to meditate. The bottom 5 are the “Joyful Mysteries”, the middle 5 are the “Sorrowful Mysteries” and the top are the “Glorious Mysteries.” Surrounding Mary are various saints, including Dominic, the founder of the Dominican order---not the same Dominic who popularized the meditational rosary!