A Dutch brass holder for an hour-glass on arm and an associated carved wooden block

An hour-glass holder like the one offered used to be fixed to the pulpit in a church from where a preacher would speak to the congregation. The hour-glass reminded the preacher about the limited speech time decided by the Gorcumse vroedschap (counsel of the city of Gorcum) on 5 September 1643. After the protestant Reformation yellow bronze objects like chandeliers, candlesticks, lecterns and holders for hour-glasses became a recurring part of the church interior. Without being lavish, the yellow gold colour contrasted beautifully with the dark brown colour of the oak furniture. Few churches in the Netherlands, for example in Doorn and Amerongen still possess the hour-glass holder fixed to the pulpit. (Catharina L. van Groningen, De Utrechtse heuvelrug. De Stichtse Lustwarande. Dorpen en landelijk gebied., Zwolle Rijksdienst voor de Monumentenzorg, Zeist, 2000)