Rosary Bead: St George and the Dragon and St Hubert and the Stag
Maker Unknown
Date: Early 16th century
Place Made: Flanders
Materials & Techniques: Boxwood
Dimensions: 8.9cm x 4.5cm (open)
Accession Number: The Wallace Collection, S281
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This small wooden bead measures only 4.5 cm across. It was made 500 years ago, probably in a part of Europe called Flanders, part of the country we now call Belgium.This is a rosary bead and it hung from a belt or was kept in a small bag. It was used to help Catholic people pray.
It has a hinge so that it can be opened and closed. There is a repeated pattern of curves and arches on the outside and inside are very delicate carvings of Saint George and the dragon and Saint Hubert and the stag.
The carvings inside are in miniature: the heads of Saint George and Saint Hubert in this little bead are no bigger than pin-heads. The carvings are also very fragile but the spherical shape of the bead helps to protect them.
Saint George was a Christian soldier who killed a dragon to save a princess. He is the patron saint of England. Saint Hubert is also a Christian saint and the patron saint of hunters.
Teachers' Information
Activities
1. There is a hook and chain to attach the rosary to a belt.The bead would also have been kept in a bag to help protect it. It was a treasured object. You could talk to the children about religious objects and symbols, including dress and jewellery.
2. The saints are identifiable by their different attributes. Choose a few different saints and read the children their stories. Show them a selection of images of these saints and ask the children if they are able to identify which is which.
3. The stories of the saints tell us of brave deeds and heroic actions. When we see a picture of a heroic-looking man on a horse by a dragon he is instantly identifiable as St George. Ask the children to draw pictures of themselves doing their greatest achievement (e.g. winning a race, getting good marks in a school project etc.) and create a board of achievement in the classroom where every child can feel good about themselves.
4. You could try soap carving with the children to enable them to understand how time consuming and intricate an art wood carving is. You will need a bar of moisturising soap, clay work carving tools and a simple pattern for them to replicate.