Rosary Beads Rosaries were loops of beads designed to help Catholics count a set sequence of prayers that became more common during the Catholic Reformation. Rosaries with fancier beads, such as the one shown here, were often worn around the neck or looped through the belt, serving as a fashion item as well as a devotional aid.
(Cleveland Museum of Art, Ohio, USA/J. H. Wade Fund/Bridgeman Images)