For Sale
Job's Tears Rosary...It's called Coix lacryma-jobi in botanical nomenclature, but don't let that put you off. That's just the Latin way of saying "Job's Tears." The annual grass produces a fruit shaped like a tear drop. Since no one shed more tears than the Biblical Job, its name in the West, and thus in the botanical literature, was secured. An alternate name, used by Catholic rosary makers is "Mary's Tears." What makes this plant so important to the bead world is that the fruit is perfect for stringing. It is one of the rare natural beads in either the plant or animal kingdoms. At its tip is a hole that allows the flower to emerge. When picked off the stem, the rounded end breaks off, leaving a hole. The inside is so soft that it is easily pierced. Hence, an instant bead.How long have Job's Tears been used for beads? We will probably never know. One was found in Timor (one of the smaller Indonesian islands) dating to about 3000 B.C. It was reported as a "bead," but there is no other evidence to support this idea.
However, from a recently excavated site in western India comes indisputable proof that Job's Tears were used as beads around 2000 B.C. A beadmaking shop was uncovered, where the workers were crafting beads from steatite (soapstone). Within the shop were many Job's Tears, apparently to be strung up with the steatite beads.
At a southern Indian archaeological site dated to the first century or so, a wire was excavated with five Job's Tears strung on it. Job's Tears are common finds in south Indian sites. Archaeologists were calling them "rice beads," because the plant grows wild in rice fields. Now they know what they are.
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I just love your rosary beads. Sorry can't pick a favorite, love them all. They are beautiful. I tried checking them out on ebay, but the auctions were closed. Do you have a website or some place you sell them? Thanks for sharing.
Feb. 23, 2006 By:
Yvonne (Nana P)
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