El rosario: Between Devotional Object and Casual Jewel – A Historical Exhibition

This 'Piece of the Month' exhibition showcases a rosary from the 16th century, primarily made of jet and silver, featuring the apostle Santiago. It explores the historical and devotional significance of rosaries as personal objects of prayer and as fashion accessories, particularly in medieval Christianity and among pilgrims to Santiago de Compostela.

The 'Piece of the Month' for December 2023 and January 2024, titled 'El rosario: entre objeto devocional y joya casual,' presents a significant 16th-century rosary made primarily of jet and silver, featuring the apostle Santiago. Originating in the Middle Ages with the consolidation of Christianity, rosaries became characteristic personal devotional objects, worn around the neck or waist and used during prayer. This particular rosary is crafted from jet, a material historically attributed with magical properties and considered a protective amulet. The representation on the rosary is of Santiago, the patron saint of Spain. The devotion to Santiago was instrumental in the Christian reconquest of the peninsula, leading to his moniker 'Santiago Matamoros.' By the late 14th century, pilgrims to Santiago de Compostela began purchasing jet objects of the apostle, fostering a local industry and the creation of the Cofradía de los Azabacheros. Workshops in Compostela produced rosaries with precious metal settings, such as silver, popularizing their use. These exquisite jet pieces were sought after by pilgrims, reinforcing the connection between jet craftsmanship and the pilgrimage route. The image of Santiago on this purse-sized rosary depicts the saint in the attire of a Compostelan pilgrim, flanked by two praying pilgrims. These jet representations were highly valued and numerous, clearly symbolizing the pilgrims' connection to the apostolic sanctuary as a memento of their journey. The glossary defines 'rosario' as a string of beads for Catholic prayer, 'rosario de bolso' as a smaller type of rosary, 'azabache' as a polished black fossil coal used for jewelry, and 'Apóstol Santiago' as one of Jesus's disciples, whose burial in Galicia initiated the routes to Compostela.

A related talk is scheduled for Sunday at 13:00h, with an estimated duration of 30-45 minutes. Reservations can be made via the museum's website. General museum hours are provided, with specific opening and closing times listed for weekdays and weekends, and closures on certain holidays.