Four-chambered sand-glass
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1575-1625
This sand-glass, also referred to as a 'battery', comprises four individual sand-glasses mounted within a single rectangular frame. Produced in Italy between 1575 and 1625, the instrument features blown glass ampoules housed in a dark, turned ebony frame, which is decorated with inlaid ivory or bone accents.
Each of the four units consists of two glass phials joined at the center, secured with fabric bindings. The object measures 8.3 cm in height and 14.5 cm in width.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Technical characteristics
- Date
- 1575-1625
- Type
- Sand-glass
- Maker
- Unknown
- Function
- Multiple duration intervals
- Materials
- Ebony, glass, ivory or bone
- Dimensions
- 8.3 cm height x 14.5 cm width
- Place recorded
- Italy
- Place of origin
- Italy
Design
- Visible features
- • Four glass bulb units arranged side-by-side in a single frame • Turned ebony supports for the top and bottom plates • Inlaid circular ivory or bone decorative markers on the top frame • Green fabric bindings securing the joints of each sand-glass
- Construction and Materials
- The object is constructed as a battery of four sand-glasses, each composed of two blown glass ampoules or phials joined together. The junctions between the phials are obscured by fabric bindings, a method often employed to secure the seal between the two chambers. These glasses are fixed within a rectangular frame constructed from turned ebony components. The structural integrity of the frame is provided by vertical turned spindles connecting the base and the top platform. The top surface of the frame features linear and circular inlaid decorations, which consist of either ivory or bone. This combination of dark ebony wood and light-colored inlay is consistent with the material composition documented for this piece.
- Provenance and Documentation
- Fulgence in Paris. Records indicate that it was displayed in Room 5 by 1925 alongside another related item, catalogued as 83-1880. Subsequently, the object was moved through different display locations within the institution, including Room 74 in 1964, before eventually being placed in storage in Room 125s by the 1980s. The object is documented in historical research regarding sand-glasses, with comparable examples noted in horological literature. There is also a suggestion in the museum records that this specific item may correspond to one illustrated in a 2015 publication focusing on historic sand-glasses.
- Utility and Historical Context
- During the 16th and 17th centuries, sand-glasses served as instruments for monitoring specific durations in domestic, scholarly, and ecclesiastical settings. While it has been suggested that these represent subdivisions of an hour, such as 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes, it remains impossible to verify these durations. The internal particles have ceased to flow freely, preventing any practical testing of the individual chambers' timing capacities.
Identification
- Accession number
- 82-1880
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: Material of inlay is identified as ivory or bone
- Research required: Intervals for each glass are unknown and cannot be tested