A Walk Through Two Thousand Years of German History

Pulpit hourglass

1601/1625
Walnut, underground burl, brass, glass
Inv.Nr. KG 2007/5

Church services in the Reformed and Lutheran tradition tended to be wordy. Pulpit hourglasses served to set a limit on the length of sermons. Luther, who complained about sermons that were too long but held them anyway, recommended one hour as a sensible measure. Four quarter-hours were measured by the hourglass, visible to the preacher and the parish.