Odd Fellows ceremonial hourglass 1856

This 1856 hourglass, crafted by an anonymous artist, is an example of an Odd Fellows ceremonial object, a fraternity known for its rituals and symbols. The hourglass, crafted in wood and painted in red and gold, embodies the passage of time, a key theme in Odd Fellows iconography, and its presence in a ceremonial context likely symbolized the ephemerality of life and the importance of living righteously. This object, housed at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, is a fascinating insight into the material culture of 19th-century fraternal organizations.