16th-Century German Gilt Copper Astrolabe
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
16th century
This 16th-century German astrolabe is a gilt copper astronomical instrument measuring 88 mm in diameter. It is unsigned and preserved at the Istituto e Museo di Storia della Scienza in Florence, Italy.
The device features a central mater with three plates, calibrated for different latitudes including 36, 40, 42, 45, and 50 degrees with a polar projection. The rete is designed to indicate eighteen stars, rendered either through names or protruding points. The astrolabe is characterized by notable idiosyncrasies in its Latin inscriptions, including abbreviated zodiac names and reversed letters, specifically the character 'N' and the 'S' in 'MARCIUS'.
The back includes a half-shadow square with rough divisions and a scale for hours. Suspended via a ring on the throne, the instrument is completed by a non-graduated pointer equipped with sights. The source notes specific orthographic variations that deviate from expected standard formatting for such scientific tools.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Technical characteristics
- Date
- 16th century
- Type
- German astrolabe
- Origin
- German
- Diameter
- 88 mm
- Material
- Gilt copper
- Place recorded
- Germany
- Signature Status
- Unsigned
- Latitude Calibrations
- 36, 40, 42, 45, and 50 degrees
Design
- Visible features
- • Gilt copper construction • Includes three plates with varied latitude calibrations • Reversed lettering in Latin inscriptions • Suspension ring attached to the throne
- Construction and Design
- The instrument is constructed from gilt copper and measures 88 mm in diameter. It features a throne at the top, which serves as a mounting point for a ring used to suspend the astrolabe. The outer limb is divided into segments ranging from 1 to 24. The rete displays eighteen stars, identified either by name or by small protruding points. A non-graduated pointer, fitted with sights, completes the instrument's face configuration. The interior mater is designed to house three separate plates. These plates provide latitude calibrations for 36, 40, 42, 45, and 50 degrees, utilizing a polar projection system. The back of the instrument contains a half-shadow square situated in the lower portion. This square is lightly marked with rough divisions from 3 to 6 to 9 to 12, while the lower half also includes a scale representing hours, marked from 1 to 12.
- Orthography and Inscriptions
- The astrolabe contains various Latin inscriptions across its components. The rete features zodiac sign names, some of which are abbreviated. The reverse side of the instrument also includes zodiac signs and names of months in Latin. The engraving of these inscriptions contains repeated irregularities noted in the source documentation. Specific orthographic peculiarities are present, including the consistent reversal of the letter 'N'. Additionally, the sign for Pisces is recorded as 'PISSES' rather than the standard Latin spelling. The word 'MARCIUS' also features a reversed letter 'S'. These idiosyncrasies occur across both the zodiac and month designations, differentiating this instrument from standard historical examples of the period.
- Provenance and Documentation
- The astrolabe is currently held within the collection of the Istituto e Museo di Storia della Scienza in Florence, Italy, identified under inventory number 1106. The piece is attributed to a 16th-century German origin, though it remains unsigned. The object has been formally catalogued by the museum, with specific reference provided in the publication by M. Miniati, titled 'Museo di Storia della scienza: Catalago', published in Florence in 1991. The record is included as part of the Epact archive, which documents scientific instruments from the medieval and Renaissance periods.
Identification
- Inventory Number
- 1106
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: Attribution to German origin is not substantiated by maker marks
- Research required: The exact function of the non-graduated pointer is only identified as being equipped with sights