Archive Notes

Cast Iron Winged Hourglass Funeral Casket Hardware c.1865–1895
This cast iron handle dates to the late 19th century and was produced for a high-quality funeral casket or closely related mortuary furnishing. At its center, a finely detailed winged hourglass is framed by architectural molding and a heavy swinging bail handle. Handles of this type were manufactured by specialized casket hardware companies and fitted to ornate wooden coffins before burial.

The Victorian era transformed mourning into an elaborate visual language. The winged hourglass represents the swift passage of earthly life and the hope of eternity beyond it, the emblem appeared on cemetery monuments, mourning art, and funeral carriages. 

Surviving coffin handles entered the collectors' market through undertakers, funeral home inventories, architectural salvage, or cemetery maintenance during the twentieth century. Obsolete hardware was removed from deteriorated or abandoned furnishings. 

Details

• Origin: Europe
• Date: Circa 1865–1895
• Material: Heavy cast iron
• Decoration: Winged hourglass (memento mori), architectural shield backplate, scrolling swing bail
• Features: Functional swinging handle 
• Dimensions: Appx: 8 inches wide, 4 inches tall
• Condition: Untouched antique condition with stable oxidation, original surface patina, casting wear, and age-related corrosion. The swinging handle remains functional. Please examine all photographs.