Egyptian Hourglass Porcelain Limoges Box

Sand runs through time in this Egyptian-themed hourglass, a porcelain nod to the ancient land of pharaohs and pyramids. The hourglass was modeled as a Limoges box and painted by hand in Limoges, France.

Sands of the Nile

Ancient Egypt has fascinated travelers and collectors for centuries, and an hourglass makes a fitting emblem for a civilization that measured history in thousands of years. Egyptian motifs became especially popular in French decorative arts after Napoleon's expedition to Egypt in 1798.

An Explorer's Shelf

• Hand-painted porcelain from Limoges, France
• Pairs with pyramid, sphinx and world landmark pieces
• Fits an ancient Egypt, world travel or history collection

When Time Matters

An hourglass is a natural symbol for milestones, which makes this piece a thoughtful retirement present, a gift for a long-serving colleague, or a keepsake after a Nile cruise. History teachers, archaeologists and museum regulars will appreciate the theme at once. Place it on a library shelf beside books on antiquity, on a desk in a study, or in a curio cabinet with souvenirs from far-off travels.