Between Good Friday (when Jesus was killed and buried) and Easter Sunday (when Jesus rose from the dead), we have Holy Saturday—a time of contemplation and watchful waiting. Holy Saturday is the last day of the Triduum, which concludes with the Easter Vigil Mass on Saturday night.
The Italian sandglass, shown above, is made of sand-cast pewter fitted with a corseted glass timer. It holds (approximately) five minutes of sand (though precise timing never seems to be of paramount importance in Italy—style and craftsmanship are always more important!).
Sandcasting of metals is an ancient process, thousands of years old. An object (which one would like to duplicate) is pressed into a bed of sticky sand, creating a "mould." Then molten metal (bronze, brass, pewter, iron) is poured into the depression. When the piece has cooled enough to handle, the artisan can then clean, polish and finish the piece to remove burrs, flaws, or any sand which has become stuck to the casting. The process is simple, however, a little rustic. It is this primitive appearance which gives sand-cast objects their character—the charming little flaws of an ancient manufacturing technique.
Please click on the photo above to learn more about this handsome sandglass.
Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com).
To arrange a visit our Pittsburgh showroom (by private appointment only), please call 917-446-4248.