Hourglass
The simplicity of this Hourglass (2003) begins with whats not there, namely a wooden holder. In addition to nothing hiding the black sand from view, the hand-blown glass is wonderfully clear and the pinched center maximizes the contrast between empty and full as the sand slowly slips through. Its an elegant solution for timing any activity that lasts for 45 minutes, especially where a ticking clock or stopwatch would be disruptive.