Gold mounted aventurine and blue glass rosary, Spain circa 1700

A gold mounted aventurine and blue glass rosary.

Spanish, late 17th / early 18th century.

The inner necklace circumference is 88cm, the drop measures 20cm.

The blue glass is mixed with aventurine to imitate the highly desirable mineral, Lapis Lazuli.

Three pierced gold and enamel pendants are suspended from the rosary. The central pendant is decorated with objects of Christ’s passion, which are the letters ‘IHS’ surmounted by a cross, above three nails and framed by the crown of thorns. The two flanking pendants are decorated with images of Saints Michael, Anthony, Jerome and one other unidentified male saint.