Vintage Italian rosary with spina Christi beads. 

Spina Christi beads, the seeds from a plant botanically known as Ziziphus spina-christi, the Christ's Thorn Jujube. The jujube tree is an evergreen tree native to northern and tropical Africa and southern and Western Asia. Legend suggests that Christ's crown of thorns was made from its crooked branches which are covered with thorns.

The reliquary crucifix has black wood inlay with a molded metal Christ figure pegged to it. Incised on the reverse are the words "Roma, Italy." At the top of the cross is a single hinge and at the bottom once had tiny bolt that screws open. That bolt is missing. I have learned that this once held  soil from the Catacombs of Rome.

The opening of the rosary is 31" and the front piece is 7" long and the crucifix is 1 1/2" tall. Weight: 29.71 grams.