Prayer beads worth $70m on display in Abu Dhabi

More than 4,000 rare rosaries reflecting the Turkish Ottoman civilization with a value of nearly $70 million got on display in Abu Dhabi today at a show that will continue for three months.

The collection is owned by Turkish businessman Berat Serdar Neziroğlu who says the rosaries have been hand-made by 60 Turkish artists.

The March 31-June 30 show is held at the sprawling seaside Emirates Palace Hotel, whose officials expect a large number of rosary fans to visit the event.

“This is a collection which has been meticulously brought together over the years. It has been described as one of the world’s most valuable collections,” Neziroğlu said.

He said the rosaries, mostly prayers beads, had been made of more than 100 different materials and that they are all hand-made.

Neziroğlu said he began collecting rosaries in 2007, when he bought a silver one during a flight, describing the purchase as “the start of the adventure.”

“Like all other collectors, I initially collected non-artistic beads. Later on I began to research and I learned the difference between the normal rosary and that of artistic value. I met the real artists who perform this art,” he said.

“My aim of this exhibition is to show the Ottoman art to the world. This is the very first time art rosaries will be exhibited at an open event.”

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