Minute Gallery

Hour glass/Egg time

This egg timer is a form of hourglass which measure the time in minutes. In this case from left to right, five minutes, four minutes and three minutes. Factors which affect the time measured include the amount of crystals, the bulb size, the neck width and the sand quality. The hourglass must be tightly sealed to exclude moisture. The hourglass is thought to have originated in Ancient Greece. It was widely used by the 1300s.The hourglass is often used as a visual symbol representing tim

© SHEILA TERRY/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Illustration for The Cloister and the Hearth by Charles Reade (litho)

6020442 Illustration for The Cloister and the Hearth by Charles Reade (litho) by Hewerdine, Matt Bede (1868-1909); Private Collection; (add.info.: "Oh Sir, oh my Lord, give a poor boy but a minute to bid his only friend farewell." Illustration for The Cloister and the Hearth, A Tale of the Middle Ages, by Charles Reade, with illustrations by Matt B Hewerdine (Chatto & Windus, 1902).); © Look and Learn

© © Look and Learn / Bridgeman Images

Minute repeating full calendar keyless lever watch with moon phases in hunter case, c.1900 (18k gold case)

5906700 Minute repeating full calendar keyless lever watch with moon phases in hunter case, c.1900 (18k gold case) by Pouldjian, Djezvedjian & Arabian (fl.c.1900); diameter: 5.6 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Signed Pouldjian, Djezvedjian & Arabian, Constantinople, No. 1657. Nickel-finished lever movement, 30 jewels, bimetallic compensation balance, minute repeating on two steel hammers onto two gongs, glazed dust cover, gold cuvette, gilt matte dial, outer and central raised yellow and white gold floral decoration, Turkish numerals, four sunk subsidiary dials for month, day, date and moon phases with constant seconds and lunar calendar, heavy engine-turned circular case, blank shield-shaped cartouche surrounded by engraved floral and scroll decoration to the front, repeating slide in the band, case numbered, cuvette signed and numbered.); Photo © Christie's Images

© © Christie's Images / Bridgeman Images