Maureen,

You probably already know this: the Diocesan Museum in Cologne has a large collection of rosary beads, and had an exhibition some 30 years ago, with an accompanying illustrated catalogue:

    500 Jahre Rosenkranz, 1475 Köln 1975 : Erzbischöfliches Diözesan-Museum Köln, 25. Oktober 1975-15. Januar 1976.
[Köln : Erzbischöfliches Diözesan-Museum, 1975]
    208 p., [39] leaves of plates : ill. (7 col.) ; 21 cm.
    Exhibition catalog (p. 129-196) by H. Küffner and W. Schulten.

. -- Paul Chandler

On 28/09/06, Maureen A. Tilley <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Dear medievalists,

I would appreciate any early references to rosary beads that opened to reveal scenes. I am looking for verification that such beads existed before 1370 in England. Might anyone have bibliography or know of a museum which exhibits an example datable to the fourteenth century.
Thanks in advance.
Maureen A. Tilley
Visiting Professor of Theology
Fordham University, Lincoln Center Campus
New York, NY 10023
212-636-6369

--
Paul Chandler, O.Carm.  |  Institutum Carmelitanum
via Sforza Pallavicini 10  |  00193 - Roma  |  Italy
tel: +39-06-68.10.08.1  |  fax: +39-06-68.30.72.00
[log in to unmask]