{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O119999"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O119999/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AE6131/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AE6131/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AE6131","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O119999/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O119999","accessionNumber":"82-1880","objectType":"Sand-glass","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"During the 16th and 17th centuries sandglasses were used in various situations: in churches, typically to time the sermon; on ships to time the length of the watches; in the kitchens of wealthy households, probably to help judge cooking times. They are often illustrated in scholars' studies where they served meditation, or simply helped judge the time of day.\r\n\r\nSandglasses in this period were constructed from two matching glass ampoules sealed (often with wax or pitch) and bound with fabric at the joint. The 'sand' was usually a material less sensitive to moisture such as powdered metal, rock or eggshell.\r\n\r\nThese four sandglasses in a single frame run for different periods, probably subdivisions of an hour, but it has not been possible to time them precisely as the particles no longer run freely.","physicalDescription":"A sand-glass set or ‘battery’ of four glasses each composed of two ampoules or phials, mounted in a frame of ebony with ivory or bone inlay. ","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"blown glass","id":"AAT10832"},{"text":"ebony","id":"AAT12055"},{"text":"ivory","id":"AAT11857"}],"techniques":[{"text":"inlay (process)","id":"AAT53850"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Blown glass in a frame of ebony inlaid with ivory (or bone)","categories":[{"text":"Clocks & Watches","id":"THES48976"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"FWK","id":"THES48597"},"images":["2006AE6131"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"009","id":"THES301853"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Sand-glass","id":"AAT14351"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Italy","id":"x28927"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":"Possibly"}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1575-1625","earliest":"1575-01-01","latest":"1625-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"8.3","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"14.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"from catalogue","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Bought for £3 from Mons. Fulgence, Paris.\nDisplay history: displayed in room 5 (case W.129) by 1925 (with 83-1880), and in room 74 (1964); in store (room 125s) by the 1980s.\n\nThese four sandglasses in a single frame run for different periods, probably 15min, 30min, 45min & 1 hour, although 5, 10, 15 & 20 minutes are also possible; it is not possible to time them as the particles no  longer run freely. It is likely to have been used for timing private study or personal devotions.","historicalContext":"Comparable sand-glasses\r\nSee: C. F.  C. Beeson, 'Sandglass in cloth of gold’, in Antiquarian Horology,_ 1968, 417-418 and and front cover picture (p. 385). With numbers for the quarter hours painted on the ampoules. \nPossibly the same piece as included in Anna, Dominique and Eric Delalande, Sabliers d’autrfefois... , Paris 2015, pp. 170-173\n\nThe portait by Hans Eworth of William Cecil, First Baron Burghley, c.1565 (Hatfield House) depicts a broadly similar sand-glass.","briefDescription":"Sand-glass set (x4) fitted into an ebony case, inlaid with ivory.  Italian, c1600","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["82-1880"],"accessionNumberNum":"82","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1880,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-10-05","recordCreationDate":"2005-12-21","availableToBook":true}}