Hourglass is also know as a sandglass. In the early days, sandglasses were popular on ships as the motion did not affect the hourglass. They depended on them for measurements of time. Seamen would also us the hourglass to determine their position at sea. They called this “marine sandglass”.
After I got my hourglass home, I was so excited to show it to Nick. I flipped it over and went on about my evening. I came back into the room shortly after and was disappointed to see that the hourglass had already emptied to the bottom. I was confused. “What do you mean it didn’t last an hour?” So I flipped it over again and watched the clock. It lasted 15 minutes.
I was so disappointed that it was not a 60 minute hourglass. I thought all hourglasses were and hour hence the name. I have a quarter hourglass. Now I know why it was so cheap. Even though I’m disappointed in my purchase, I will still flip it over just to watch the sand fall. There is something relaxing about watching the sand build up in the bottom half of the hourglass.