An hourglass is a tool used to measure time, usually an hour, but can measure different units. It has two glass bulbs connected by a narrow opening that contains sand. Hourglasses were invented in the 14th century and were commonly used for nautical purposes, cooking, and church service timings. Today, they are often used in board games and can be collectibles due to their elegant style and variations in design.
An hourglass is a non-mechanical tool that is used to keep time. It usually measures the passing of an hour, although singles can be designed to measure different units of time. Some measure just a few seconds, for example, while others measure minutes and some even measure days.
This timing device is most often constructed of glass, as the name indicates, but it can also be made of plastic. An hourglass has two hollow bulbs connected by a narrow opening. The bulbs contain sand, which drips through the opening between the upper and lower bulb. When all the sand has fallen on the lower bulb, a certain amount of time has passed.
Hourglasses usually, but not always, have a stand enclosing the glass bulbs. Suspending the device in a stand provides a stable base and can easily be flipped over to reset the time without leaving fingerprints on the glass. The supports can be made of wood, glass, metal or plastic. The different booth designs are endless, from simple to ornamental with everything in between.
The hourglass was invented in the 14th century. Before the advent of mechanical watches, they were commonly used for nautical purposes, cooking, and church service timings, among other things. Since each marks only one period of time, we can imagine that our ancestors must have had a large collection of hourglasses. Notable one achieved fame in the classic book and film The Wizard of Oz. The suspenseful scenes in which the hourglass takes away Dorothy’s hope of a rescue makes the device familiar to many generations.
Today, hourglasses are often used in board games to mark a player’s turn or the duration of an activity. They can also be a fun way to time daily chores and other activities. Well-made ones can also make for beautiful collectibles due to their elegant style and variations in design.
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