Antique Industrial Bobbin Hourglass Sand Timer Mill Textile Treen Decor Glass
£35.00
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Antique Industrial Bobbin Hourglass Sand Timer Mill Textile Treen Decor Glass
£35.00
Item Overview
- Type: Antique Industrial Mill Bobbin Sand Timer / Repurposed Textile Treen Hourglass Novelty
- Designer: Studio Artisan Craftsman / Traditional Wood-Turner
- Brand: Unbranded Antique Industrial Treen
- Manufacturer: British Textile Mill Works & Studio Craft Workshop
- MPN: Does Not Apply
- Place of Origin: Great Britain / United Kingdom (UK Studio Crafted)
- Style: Antique Industrial Salvage / Rustic Country Kitchen / Steampunk Accent
- Colour: Deeply Patinated Walnut Brown Stem, Weathered Ink-Blue Painted End Flanges, Clear Blown Glass, and Creamy White Sand
- Design Era: Late Victorian / Early Edwardian Transition (c. 1890s–1910s Base Relic)
- Material: Reclaimed Solid Hardwood Textile Bobbin, Hand-Blown Glass Vessel, and Natural Jute Twine
- Set Includes: One (1) Single Integrated Piece: One (1) Authentic Antique Industrial Mill Bobbin fitted with an internal functional hourglass assembly
- Features: Built-in measured sand flow interval, upcycled industrial design, hand-turned circular base plates, natural fiber cord knot waist binding, matching dual-end viewing platforms
- Condition: Excellent Vintage Condition (The original antique hardwood bobbin frame is structurally rock-solid with gorgeous historic tool markings and honest factory wear; the glass sand ampoule is perfectly clean, entirely unbroken, and flows with absolute consistency)
- Size and Capacity: Substantial cabinet or desk footprint; stands approximately 6.75 inches in total height (approx. 17.2 cm) with a 3.0-inch end flange diameter.
Dating & Historical Context
- Dating: This fascinating piece of reclaimed social history utilizes a genuine antique automated industrial textile component dating to the late 19th or early 20th century (c. 1890s–1910s). The production diagnostics of the wooden pillar—including the heavy concentric scoring along the end flanges, the deep, aged ink-blue factory dye marking rings, and the dense, oil-rubbed grain structure of the hardwood core—are definitive diagnostics identifying a true turn-of-the-century loom bobbin salvaged from the historic textile mills of Northern England or the Midlands.
- Historical Note: During the peak of the British industrial revolution, the massive cotton and wool mills of Lancashire and Yorkshire relied on millions of these rugged, hand-turned wooden bobbins to feed high-speed automated spinning mules and looms. Crafted out of dense native timbers like ash, beech, or sycamore to withstand continuous high-velocity friction, every single bobbin acquired its own unique signature of grease staining, tool scars, and factory color-coding rings used by mill workers to identify thread gauges on the busy studio floor. Rather than letting these beautiful stepping stones of human industrial lineage vanish into history, a masterful studio woodworker has cut away a central viewing window along the core shaft, suspending a traditional hand-blown glass hourglass ampoule inside bound securely by rustic natural jute twine. The result is a stunning piece of functional folk art that honors its automated industrial ancestors beautifully.
Description
An incredibly visual and highly tactile acquisition for collectors of antique industrial treen, Dark Academia desk curators, or rustic country home stagers, this repurposed mill bobbin hourglass is full of unique character. The piece displays a thick, heavily patinated central wooden column that flares out into two wide, flat circular gemstone-style pedestal platforms, creating a perfectly balanced self-standing frame that can be flipped upside down seamlessly. The deep, warm walnut finish of the core column stands out in gorgeous contrast against the weathered, ink-blue painted finish covering the end discs, revealing the authentic scars of a true hard-working history.
Expert Identification & Design Features:
- Authentic Antique Industrial Lineage: Constructed from a genuine, historically active British textile mill bobbin, displaying true turn-of-the-century tool wear and color-coding rings.
- Functional Sand Hourglass: The internal hand-blown clear glass capsule houses a fine bed of clean white silica sand, providing a smooth, mesmerizing visual flow as it counts down.
- Artisan Twine Binding: The delicate glass bulb is cushioned and held safely in place at its narrowest point by a tight hand-wrapped bundle of natural jute twine, adding a wonderful organic accent.
- Dual-Ended Flawless Balance: Both circular ends are lathed completely flat and level, allowing you to flip the timer endlessly to reset the countdown mechanism on any desktop.
Condition Report
This antique industrial upcycled timer is in excellent condition, showing a beautiful balance of robust functionality and authentic historical character. The primary hardwood bobbin structure is completely solid, rigid, and sound, free from modern structural fractures, loose splitting, or woodworm damage; the perimeter edges show honest, smooth storage scuffs and factory wear that enhance its rich industrial character. The internal hand-blown glass ampoule is pristine—clear, bright, and free from interior moisture tracking, clouding, or fine hairline flaws. The white silica sand is completely dry and flows freely with zero sticking or bridging through the central neck aperture. (Please see the detailed gallery macro photos to examine the historic wood grain and view the physical scale against the ruler metrics).
Shipping & Logistics
- Domestic Shipping: FREE UK TRACKED DELIVERY.
- Packaging: This delicate glass and wood collectible will be wrapped carefully in heavy-gauge bubble cushioning to prevent any shock to the internal glass ampoule, and shipped inside a rigid structural box to guarantee a safe, pristine arrival.
- Dispatch: Order before 12.00pm and we ship same day.
Returns & Payment Policies
We want you to be delighted with your heritage find.
- Not as Described: In the unlikely event of an error in our listing, we will provide a full refund and cover the return postage costs.
- Change of Mind: We accept returns within 30 days; however, in these instances, the buyer is responsible for the return shipping costs.