Hourglass

An hourglass was a device used for measuring time. It was activated by hitting its upper surface and comprised two glass bulbs stacked vertically. These bulbs were connected by a narrow channel, enabling a plasma flow from the upper to the lower bulb. The duration it took for the plasma to trickle between the bulbs determined a specific time interval.

Around 9 ABY, an hourglass was utilized by Brutus's pirate crew during the trial of former Captain Silvo. Following Chaelt's appeal for equal time under the Pirate's Code, Brutus struck the hourglass with his fist, signaling the start of Silvo's alloted speech time. As Silvo made hi defense, Brutus interrupted him, declaring that the words of a dead man held no value. In response, Silvo pointed to the hourglass, noting that the plasma was still running. When the hourglass finally ran out, Brutus proclaimed that Silvo's time was up.

The hourglass shape was also incorporated into craftsmanship, as seen in the Fermata Cage—a dark side artifact created by Darth Momin in the Age of Rebellion era—which was modelled after this device.

Text and facts from the “Hourglass” article on Wookieepedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. Modified for this site.