Depicted in a fourteenth-century fresco by Lorenzetti in Sienna, in a sixteenth-century engraving by Dürer in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, on Blackbeard the pirate’s flag, and in countless other artworks and artifacts, the hourglass evokes not only the passage of time but also balance, the sky and the earth, the female figure, and more.

This richly symbolic object is also a calming and beautiful desk accessory. Breathe for five minutes, stretch for thirty minutes, or take a five-minute break to clear your mind as the sand moves in a tranquilizing stream from one chamber to the other.

“Sometimes all you need to be more efficient are some deadlines of just a few minutes sprinkled throughout your day, whether that’s to finish a small project or just to take a screen break. As a creative director, I use a handblown glass timer for fifteen-minute tasks during a full day of design work. It also makes a nice talking point when people spot it on your desk and inquire. I like that these Burke decor ones come in so many colors.” —Rina Stone, creative director, in The Wall Street Journal

Each hourglass is made of glass and is packaged in a box ready to give as a gift. Choose five-minute or thirty-minute hourglasses.

Five-minute hourglass available in: blue, turquoise blue, green, clear, or amber. Dimensions: 2" (W) x 3.9" (H)

Thirty-minute hourglass available in: blue, green, clear, or amber. Dimensions: 3.75" (W) x 6.75" (H)