Pr Vtg Infant of Prague 13-Bead Chaplets Red Glass Italy w/Sacred Heart Reverse
DF664b
Offered as a closely matched pair, these vintage Italian Infant of Prague Catholic chaplets feature vivid translucent red faceted beads and detailed oval devotional medals. Each compact chaplet contains 13 beads—ten forming the upper loop and three on the drop—making the pair suitable for personal devotion, a Catholic religious collection, church display or meaningful faith-based gift.
The beads appear to be vintage pressed glass, although their material has not been formally tested. Brass-tone chain links connect the beads, while the silver-tone oval medals depict the crowned Infant of Prague on the front. The reverse of each medal displays a Sacred Heart emblem surrounded by a crown-of-thorns design and is marked “ITALY.”
Both chaplets share the same general construction and devotional imagery, creating an attractive matched pair that is less commonly offered together.
Sold as is. No warranty from the Seller. No Returns.
SKU: DF664
CONDITION: Pre-owned vintage pair with age-related wear. Both chaplets appear complete with 13 beads each. The translucent red faceted beads show scattered nicks, small chips, surface abrasions and irregularities. The brass-tone chain and links have patina, tarnish and discoloration. The silver-tone medals show scratching, rubbing, oxidation and finish wear, with one reverse noticeably more scratched than the other. No sterling or precious-metal mark is visible. See all detailed pictures and read the full detailed description provided by the seller to know what you are purchasing.
Key Features
Type: Pair of compact Catholic devotional chaplets
Devotional subject: Infant Jesus of Prague
Quantity: Two chaplets
Bead count: 13 beads per chaplet
Configuration: Ten-bead loop with three-bead drop
Beads: Translucent ruby-red faceted beads, likely pressed glass
Medals: Oval silver-tone Infant of Prague devotional medals
Reverse design: Sacred Heart with crown-of-thorns motif
Marking: “ITALY” on the reverse of both medals
Construction: Brass-tone linked chain
Style: Mid-century Italian Catholic religious goods
Uses: Prayer, devotional display, religious collection or Catholic gift
Precious-metal content: No sterling-silver or gold mark visible
Designer/Manufacturer Background
No named designer or manufacturer appears on either chaplet. “ITALY” is a country-of-origin marking rather than a brand name. These were likely assembled by an unidentified Italian religious-goods workshop using commercially produced devotional medals and faceted beads. The medal imagery is based on the Infant Jesus of Prague, a historic Catholic devotional image associated with the Carmelite Church of Our Lady of Victories in Prague. The official shrine describes the original statue as more than 400 years old and notes that devotion to it eventually spread internationally.
Country of Manufacture
Italy - Both medals are clearly marked “ITALY.” It is reasonable to identify the chaplets as Italian-made or Italian-assembled, although the origin of the individual red beads cannot be independently confirmed from the markings.
Estimated Age
Likely circa 1940s–1960s
The bead style, brass-tone linked construction, oxidized silver-tone medals and Sacred Heart reverse design are consistent with mid-20th-century Italian devotional items. Comparable vintage red faceted-glass Infant of Prague chaplets are commonly identified as dating from the 1940s or 1950s, but an exact year cannot be established without a dated package or maker’s mark.
The beads appear to be vintage pressed glass, although their material has not been formally tested. Brass-tone chain links connect the beads, while the silver-tone oval medals depict the crowned Infant of Prague on the front. The reverse of each medal displays a Sacred Heart emblem surrounded by a crown-of-thorns design and is marked “ITALY.”
Both chaplets share the same general construction and devotional imagery, creating an attractive matched pair that is less commonly offered together.
Sold as is. No warranty from the Seller. No Returns.
SKU: DF664
CONDITION: Pre-owned vintage pair with age-related wear. Both chaplets appear complete with 13 beads each. The translucent red faceted beads show scattered nicks, small chips, surface abrasions and irregularities. The brass-tone chain and links have patina, tarnish and discoloration. The silver-tone medals show scratching, rubbing, oxidation and finish wear, with one reverse noticeably more scratched than the other. No sterling or precious-metal mark is visible. See all detailed pictures and read the full detailed description provided by the seller to know what you are purchasing.
Key Features
Type: Pair of compact Catholic devotional chaplets
Devotional subject: Infant Jesus of Prague
Quantity: Two chaplets
Bead count: 13 beads per chaplet
Configuration: Ten-bead loop with three-bead drop
Beads: Translucent ruby-red faceted beads, likely pressed glass
Medals: Oval silver-tone Infant of Prague devotional medals
Reverse design: Sacred Heart with crown-of-thorns motif
Marking: “ITALY” on the reverse of both medals
Construction: Brass-tone linked chain
Style: Mid-century Italian Catholic religious goods
Uses: Prayer, devotional display, religious collection or Catholic gift
Precious-metal content: No sterling-silver or gold mark visible
Designer/Manufacturer Background
No named designer or manufacturer appears on either chaplet. “ITALY” is a country-of-origin marking rather than a brand name. These were likely assembled by an unidentified Italian religious-goods workshop using commercially produced devotional medals and faceted beads. The medal imagery is based on the Infant Jesus of Prague, a historic Catholic devotional image associated with the Carmelite Church of Our Lady of Victories in Prague. The official shrine describes the original statue as more than 400 years old and notes that devotion to it eventually spread internationally.
Country of Manufacture
Italy - Both medals are clearly marked “ITALY.” It is reasonable to identify the chaplets as Italian-made or Italian-assembled, although the origin of the individual red beads cannot be independently confirmed from the markings.
Estimated Age
Likely circa 1940s–1960s
The bead style, brass-tone linked construction, oxidized silver-tone medals and Sacred Heart reverse design are consistent with mid-20th-century Italian devotional items. Comparable vintage red faceted-glass Infant of Prague chaplets are commonly identified as dating from the 1940s or 1950s, but an exact year cannot be established without a dated package or maker’s mark.