My Version of a Victorian Coral Rosary for Protection from Evil and Health Giving Benefits

You can read a little about the history of coral rosaries below, but I will briefly say again that coral has long been treasured not only for its beauty but for its mystical properties of protection from the evil eye and illness. This appreciation for coral crosses cultures and can be found in such diverse areas as Tibet and the Native Americans of the United States. In Europe rosaries were made from coral from at least the Middle Ages, Victorians were well known for providing infants with coral in the form of a rosary, necklace or teething toy.
Now that gorgeous Mediterranean coral is endangered we are using other non-endangered corals and dying them to resemble Mediterranean coral which is of course a good thing. These beads are a gorgeous and delicate salmon pink and white and are very naturalistic, almost rustic looking and perfect for rosary making. The cross is a hand cast bronze cast from a Victorian antique. You can find this rosary (at least until it sells) in my Etsy store. thesacredbead2.etsy.com
I made this rosary a four decade rosary rather than the traditional five allowing this one to be worn if one wishes. Five decades would have made it just too long to wear. It is just too beautiful to be put in a drawer! Your grandmother may have told you to never wear a rosary but throughout the ages, rosaries have been worn. Look at Medieval paintings, you will find every prominent figure wearing prayer beads. Incredible rosary necklaces were made during the 18th century. I find it interesting that we are returning to wearing rosaries, although I must say I am a bit incredulous when I see them used by pop culture figures who don't seem to have an appreciation of their actual use.