Hour-glass

This 30-minute glass is said to have come from Nelson's pew in the church (possibly St Mary's Merton) in which he worshipped. This glass is thought to time 30 minutes, although the sand now jams in the neck so it cannot be timed. It is filled with beige sand. The centre joint is bound over with twine. The stand is made of wood and has circular bases with concentric rings carved on them and a medallion figure attached to one base. The medallion bears the inscription 'ADMIRAL LORD NELSON DUKE OF BRONTI ETC'. There are 5 straight supports on the stand. The stand and glass ampoules are very similar to AST0079, except that the glass is less green in colour. It is also very similar to one in a private collection which is datable on external evidence to around 1735-40, and it is from this that we get the approximate date of this glass.

Object Details

ID: AST0083
Collection: Astronomical and navigational instruments
Type: Hour-glass
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Unknown
Date made: circa 1740
People: Nelson, Horatio
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Measurements: Overall: 220 x 113 mm