Memento Mori Monday: Two-Faced Rosary Beads

It’s monday, so I have a memento mori for you! It’s a bit on the late side, but better late than never, right?

For this week, I picked some very old artwork. Rosaries aren’t very common anymore these days, but once upon a time almost everyone had one and knew how to pray with it. In the sixteenth century, expensive ivory rosaries came in fashion among the rich and privileged. Rosary beads with a Vanitas/Memento Mori theme were not uncommon, reminding even the wealthy of their approaching end… They usually had the shape of a figurine or head with one “fair” side and one “decayed” side. You might think them a tiny bit disturbing at first sight, but beads like these were often incredible works of art, sporting tons of amazing little details… I’m sharing some of my favorites here.