Spanish colonisation of the Philippines was deeply integrated with the spread of the Catholic faith, as both Church and State aligned for the purpose of global conquest. Rosaries with crucifixes became commonplace devotional jewellery. Such silver objects recall the prosperous galleon trade between Mexico and Manila, which made available abundant supplies of silver in the Philippines.This rosary reportedly belonged to the donor’s grandaunt, Lina Juana Montilla y Montilla (b. 1906).