Time Flies : THE WINGED HOURGLASS

Another image of man's mortality to be found on gravestones is the Winged Hourglass. Often this is found also with a skull on top of the hourglass. A few examples of this kind can be found elsewhere in this section of my site. On this page though, there are a few examples without the skull.

  The image top left is a particularly fine example. The grave is for one Elizabeth Crow with the stonemason being unsure of the date of her passing, with both 1717 and 18 being indicated! There is also a cursory message to those looking at her grave carved at the bottom. Most of this inscription has been lost through time but the message is still clear ie: You may be looking at my grave now but your time will one day come!

  Top right is a winged hourglass from Salthouse, whilst at the bottom there are images from Wighton on the left and Cley on the right. The stone at Wighton has a flower sitting on top of the hourglass to represent sorrow and loss. The hourglass at Cley also has crossed bones, and pick and shovel depicted on it, all symbols of mortality.

Insert body text here...