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Clepsydra The water clock or clepsydra comes from the Greek word klepsydra, "thief of water", as it was used to limit the speaking time of lawyers during trials. It is thought to have been invented by the Egyptians in the 16th century BC. It is unreliable because the speed of the flow varies according to the temperature and pressure of the water, From the eleventh to the thirteenth century, documentary sources about water clocks are more numerous, but their interpretations remain ambiguous. For example, a manuscript mentions that in 1176 a college of church commissioners was established in Sens Cathedral to supervise the clock. In 1198, an ordinance stipulated that the men in charge of the clock during the week risked a fine if they did not wind the mechanism in time. In 1867, G. Juillot, a member of the city's Archaeological Society, concluded with certainty that the clock was "weighted and stamped". A. Ungerer, in a 1931 book, makes it a "mechanical clock", which is even more implausible (according to Gerhard Dohrn-van Rossum, notes 4-52); According to Jocelin de Brakeland, in 1198, during a fire in Bury St Edmunds Abbey, the monks rushed to the clock to fetch water. There is no ambiguity here, the 'horologium' is powered by water, so it is a hydraulic clock whose reservoir was large enough to put out the occasional fire. A clock to personalise with a special decoration for our mother, the most important person in our lives. It's mother's day gift ideas, original gift ideas mother's day, gifts for mum, unique gift for mother's day

History of the clock from its origins to the 16th century, The origins No mechanical clocks seem to exist before the fourteenth century, but several mentions in manuscript sources reveal some of the early history of the clock. The Latin word horologium, horologia, derived from the Greek [ὡρα, time and λέγειν, to say], has been used since Roman antiquity to refer to all time-indicating devices, but the use of this word for all time-measuring instruments hides from us the true nature of their mechanisms. The hydraulic clock A hydraulic clock is an ancient type of clock, which tells the time by allowing a liquid in a container to flow through a small hole. From the beginning, in ancient times, the liquid used was water, hence the name water clock. Later, mercury clocks could be found, especially in Arabic and Chinese writings, but this seems to be anecdotal. The first hydraulic clocks evolved from the simple clepsydra (see the France 2 television game show), to which a more or less sophisticated time indication was added (essentially a graduated scale); over the centuries, we have encountered different types of hydraulic clocks, monumental or not, with sophistications to animate skits, for example, or to strike a precise time. Accepting a clock for a wedding anniversary, an event that remains engraved in one's memory, are ideas wedding gifts,wedding keepsakes, unique wedding gifts, wedding gifts ideas for an important date in a couple's life, whether it is 1 year of marriage, or 50 years of marriage

Mechanical clock A mechanical clock is a time-measuring instrument that tells the time by an originally entirely mechanical action. It is based on the combination of three functions: a driving weight for the rotary movement, a regulator such as a balance wheel and a display (a graduated scale and hands). The mechanical clock is the successor to the various horologia. The Romans, and before them the Egyptians and Greeks, had already developed time-measuring instruments that demonstrated great astronomical knowledge. The invention of the mechanical clock can be placed around the 1300s and appeared in Western Europe at the end of the 13th century. Originally, it was a weight motor and foliot. A foliot is a vertical pendulum that controls the energy supplied to a wheel by a weight. The motion is then transmitted to gears that drive the movement of the hands. A weight suspended from a rope provides energy to the machine, while a system of rods and foliots periodically interrupts the fall of the weight. By placing the weights at each end of the foliot, the rhythm of the back and forth movements can be adjusted. The low precision of this mechanism, from 1 to 2 hours of deviation per 24 hours, renders the minute hand useless, and it will undergo a long evolution and an important diversification over the centuries. Having a clock as a birthday gift with a decoration dedicated to a specific birthday, 20 years, 60 years or more, is fun: unusual gifts for birthday, best anniversary gift ideas and unique anniversary gift ideas for an event that is celebrated every year and that will remain unique.

Greek water clocks An early prototype of an alarm clock was invented by the Greeks around 250 BC. The Greeks built a water clock, called a clepsydra, where rising water told the time and eventually struck a mechanical bird that set off an alarm whistle. The water filled a tank with an hour scale inside and flowed out through a hole in the base of the container. Clepsydras were more useful than sundials - they could be used indoors, at night and even under cloudy skies - but they were not as accurate. Greek water clocks became more accurate around 325 BC and were fitted with a dial with an hour hand, which made reading the clock more accurate and practical. Monastery clocks and clock towers The life of the Church, and in particular the monks who called others to prayer, made chronometers a necessity in daily life. The first clockmakers in medieval Europe were Christian monks. The first recorded clock was built by the future Pope Sylvester II around 996. Much more sophisticated clocks and church towers were built by monks later. Peter Lightfoot, a 14th century Glastonbury monk, built one of the earliest surviving clocks, which is still in use at the Science Museum in London. Getting a birthday clock from a family member or friend is cool : unusual gifts for birthday, best anniversary gift ideas and unique anniversary gift ideas that will always be in time for a family gathering or with friends

Sundials and obelisks Ancient Egyptian obelisks, built around 3500 BC, are also among the oldest ghost clocks. The oldest known sundial comes from Egypt. It dates from around 1500 BC. Candle clocks The first mention of candle clocks comes from a Chinese poem written in 520 AD. According to this poem, the graduated candle, whose burning rate was measured, was a means of determining the time of night. Similar candles were used in Japan until the early 10th century. Hourglass Hourglasses were the first reliable, reusable, reasonably accurate and easily manufactured time measuring devices. From the 15th century onwards, hourglasses were mainly used to tell time at sea. An hourglass consists of two glass spheres connected vertically by a narrow neck that allows a controlled flow of material, usually sand, from the upper sphere to the lower. Hourglasses are still used today. They were also introduced for use in churches, industry and the kitchen. Candle clocks were another timekeeping device used in the ancient world, from China to England to Mesopotamia. Chronometers were developed in places like India and Tibet and the hourglass (which was widely used throughout Europe) came a little later. Receiving a clock for your birthday with a decoration dedicated to a specific birthday, whether you are 20, 40 or older, is great : unusual gifts for birthday, best anniversary gift ideas and unique anniversary gift ideas for an event that is celebrated every year and that will remain unique.

Clocks Since time immemorial, people have tried to tame time. Thanks to scientific discoveries and technical innovations, the measurement of time has gradually been mastered. For thousands of years, people have measured time in a variety of ways, including following the movements of the sun with sundials, using water clocks, candle clocks and hourglasses. Our modern basic 60 time system, a clock with periods of 60 minutes and 60 seconds, dates back to 2000 BC in ancient Sumeria (the southernmost region of ancient Mesopotamia). History of clocks; "Time is money", they say, but the history of clocks is long and fascinating. The measurement of time is one of the earliest developments of mankind and time has changed greatly since ancient times. The birth of clocks to measure time: A clock is a time-measuring instrument that usually tells the time continuously. The word comes from the Latin horologium, "that tells the time", itself derived from the Greek ὡρολόγιον (formed from oρα, "time", and λέγειν, "to tell", λόγιον, "to tell"). Since ancient times, the Latin term 'horologium' has been used to refer to any instrument capable of indicating time, which has often led to difficulties in interpreting ancient texts. Thus, a sundial, a water clock, an astrolabe, a nocturlabe, a mechanical clock were called "horologia". A clock with a photo of your holiday by the sea, in the mountains or in the countryside. There's nothing better to cheer you up when the holidays are over or when the weather is not good. These are custom photo gifts, photo gifts ideas, to personalise gifts photo, to personalise with photos

Kubb is a Swedish throwing game and outdoor sport with similar characteristics to games like bowling, Mölkky and pétanque. If you're looking for an original, festive game that's easy to play outdoors, this Nordic game is perfect for groups of 2 or more. It's the perfect game as a gift for them, a birthday present for them, in short a gift for a birthday or small party. What's more, if you're really a champion thrower, you can take part in Kubb competitions. In the competition, two teams use sticks to knock down their opponents' Kubbs (wooden blocks) and then the king placed in the centre of the game. The "Kubbs" are blocks of wood placed by 5 on each of the widths between the two stakes. A king is placed in the centre of the court. There are Kubb tournaments just about everywhere, even in Belgium. A few years ago, RTBF (French-speaking Belgian radio and television) announced the 3rd edition of the Kubb (Attack) tournament. The tournament would take place on a Sunday in the beautiful village of Anthisnes. Teams must be made up of at least 4 players. Everyone can have fun playing Kubb. It only takes a few minutes to understand the rules and can be played on a variety of surfaces, such as grass, sand, snow or even ice. Legend has it that the game dates back to Viking times. It's an original wooden gift, an unusual gift for the summer or winter holidays, a gift idea for anyone, an original fun gift.

A friendly game adapted from the famous TV game show. Have fun at home as if you were on TV. Organising a lottery or a game of chance on the occasion of a fancy-fair, fair, birthday or any other celebration will no longer be an impossible mission, thanks to this wheel of fortune that will amuse young and old alike. This wheel of fortune is a great support for lottery games, games of letters, numbers or any other game from your imagination. Numbers from 1 to 30, letters from A to Z and four jokers! Installed on the stable solid wood base, the wheel rotates easily on your table. Be creative and invent lottery games. Try your luck. For example, if the wheel points to the letter A, look for a star name starting with the letter A. The first one to find it wins a point... Another suggestion: turn the wheel if it indicates the number 8, you have to make 8 small jumps to win the point. If the wheel falls on the joker you win the point easily and effortlessly. It's up to you... The Wheel of Fortune is undoubtedly an original and fun game to play at home, a board game to play with your children at home, a game of chance to have fun with your friends... A nice and original gift to offer at Christmas, or on the occasion of a birthday.

Me, I am Tiger woods! I am Jack Nicklaus... This is how a game of minigolf could start between two young friends in the living room, protected from the winter bad weather or at any other time of free time. So it's an original idea for a birthday, an end of year party. It should be noted that the miniature golf course was invented in 1867 to allow women to try their hand at golf, a golf course previously reserved for men. However, miniature golf courses did not appear in geometric format and were mostly made on artificial courses with mostly carpet coverings around the beginning of the twentieth century. Named "Golstacle" in the press, the magazine "The Illustrated London News" referred to it in the magazine "The Illustrated London News" on the 8th of June one thousand nine hundred and twelve. This game of miniature golf has many elements to make a miniature golf course to entertain oneself when one has some time or when a friend comes to the house. This game will undoubtedly make you want to try out the closest miniature golf course to your home. The qualities to play mini golf are self-control, patience, concentration, but often a little luck... However, keep your China vases and crystal vases away from golf balls.

In the West, one of the best-known ancestors of the jewellery box is the shrine, a stone, wooden or metal coffin in which the remains of a dead person are enclosed. Is it really necessary to dissociate its uses, whether sacred or profane, when we know to what extent emeralds, diamonds, rubies and other sapphires are still today the object of a fascination that sometimes borders on devotion? "At the turn of the 13th and 14th centuries, their sizes diminished, allowing them to be covered with precious materials, whether fabric, enamel or stones. Visually, all these boxes lost their coffin-like appearance and took on the shape of small monuments evoking chapels or churches. Also at this time, cast iron was combined with pushed, stamped or embossed metal. The jewellery box then became less aristocratic. The gift we are offering you is a rectangular faux leather design to escape the uniformity of the "Made in China" jewellery boxes. You have the opportunity to find designs for almost all obvious occasions: Mother's Day, Valentine's Day, birthdays, and of course we can apply your photo on the lid of this jewellery box . Just choose the jewellery box with the desired decoration. A birthday gift for a special unique birthday, birthday gift ideas, for a birthday whose date is an unforgettable number, what could be more fabulous! birthday gifts to personalise, gifts to offer to whom you want!

The origin of croquet can be traced back to the game of pall-mall which was played in the French countryside in the Middle Ages. It was Louis XIV who had it transferred to the table in his palace so that it could be played even in winter and the game would then have become billiards. The English copied the game around 1300 and, after many developments, it became golf in Scotland and croquet in Ireland. Popularised during the second half of the 19th century and at the beginning of the 20th century, contemporary croquet is mainly practised by Anglo-Saxons: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, India, etc. For many of us, this croquet game seems to be just a pleasant pastime and an ideal wooden game idea to offer as a birthday present for dad or as a fun gift for young people. Croquet also brings enthusiasts together in a Belgian federation that was founded in 1994 and which organises tournaments. Croquet can be played alone or in teams, most often on grass, but sometimes on the beach (sand) and even on ice. Teams range from two to eight players. The aim is to make the wooden ball go through the field as quickly as possible by advancing it with a mallet. The ball must follow a precise course, delimited by hoops, under which the ball must pass. The courses differ according to the number of hoops to be crossed, the direction of the course, etc. A fun outdoor game to play with family or friends.

This wooden game box offers the possibility to play with the two board games most practiced in many families: chess and jacquet. This box is portable thanks to its handle. It is a remarkable and practical gift that will please the lovers of wooden board games. The box is carefully worked with marquetry in the lid. The learning of the backgammon game is quite fast. The goal of the game is to be the first to have brought all his pieces to his camp, called jan, and to have taken them out of the board one by one. Backgammon is a game in which luck intervenes and where strategy and experience are paramount. While having fun, the game of chess allows children and adults to develop their concentration, creativity, and improve their strategy and memory. It is the king of the board game and has many followers all over the world. It is fairly easy to learn. The chess game is played on the outside of the box. All the pieces, except the king, can be taken from each other. The object of the game is to make the king mate because the king is threatened with capture at the next move and no parry is possible to avoid it. A fun gift for the whole family, from classic games that are passed down from generation to generation, to rules known by everyone, from children to grandparents. Offer these wooden board games, an entertaining gift for moments of relaxation and conviviality.