Accession No
1001
Brief Description
planispheric astrolabe with one plate engraved as celestial, made for Muhammad Bakir Isfahani, by Muhammad Mahdi al-Khadim, Persian, 1070 AH, 1659 AD
Origin
Persia (Islamic) [Iran]
Maker
Mahdi al-Khadim, Muhammad [maker] Bakir Isfahani, Muhammad [constructed for]
Class
astronomy
Earliest Date
1659
Latest Date
1659
Inscription Date
Material
metal (brass)
Dimensions
diameter 116 mm
Special Collection
Provenance
On loan from the Museum of Archaeology & Anthropology, University of Cambridge, from 1951.
Inscription
M. Mahdi al-Khadim [Persian]
Description Notes
Planispheric astrolabe, Persian; by M. Mahdi al-Khadim, 1070 AH; 1659 AD, with one plate engraved as celestial planisphere.
Brass planispheric astrolabe. 5 plates, for latitudes 30° & 33°, 30° & 39°, 36° & 33°, 42° & tablet of horizons, northern & southern celstial planispheres. Rete for over 50 stars, with inset turquoises. On reverse, inset compass below the suspension shackle, sinical quadrant, horary quadrant, shadow square, alidade. Ownership inscription says the instrument was constructed for M. Bakir Isfahani. Dated 1070 AH = 1659 AD from a chronogram.
Condition fair, some corrosion and wear and tear.
References
Events
Description
This instrument is unusual because it is inscribed with the name of its owner, M. Bakir of Isfahan. The richly decorated rete shows over 50 stars; one plate carries a tablet of horizons, and another is a celestial planisphere for both hemispheres. A compass is inset into the throne on the reverse.
The astrolabe has latitude plates for 30° & 33°, 30° & 39°, 33° & 39°, and 42°. The reverse is marked with a sinical quadrant, an horary quadrant, and a shadow square.
FM:39706
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