Astrolabe, 16th century
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
16th century
This 16th-century astrolabe, crafted from copper and measuring 385 mm in diameter, is part of the collection at the Istituto e Museo di Storia della Scienza in Florence.
The instrument, which is unsigned, is attributed to German manufacture based on its construction. It possesses an unusual design, lacking a traditional mater; instead, a single plate serves as the foundation for the rete, rule, and alidade. The device features extensive engravings, including wind names, scales for degrees and hours, almucantars, azimuth lines, and astrological houses. The rete incorporates 28 star pointers and a Capricorn band terminating in dragon-like features.
The instrument was historically associated with the legacy of Vincenzo Viviani. It is currently missing its suspension apparatus, though the basic astronomical components remain intact for analysis of its complex geometric and celestial markings.
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
- Type
- German astrolabe
- Origin
- German
- Diameter
- 385 mm
- Material
- Copper
- Condition
- Missing suspension
- Provenance
- Vincenzo Viviani legacy
- Place recorded
- Germany
Design
- Visible features
- • Capricorn band features dragon head and tail terminals • Plate rim engraved with 12 wind names in Latin • Rete configured with 28 simple point-shaped star pointers • Rule and alidade components are of plain, unadorned design
- Construction and Plate Design
- The astrolabe is composed of a 385 mm diameter copper disk. Unlike standard instruments of this type, this example does not include a traditional mater. Instead, the assembly relies on a single plate that supports the rete, rule, and alidade. The outer rim of this plate displays the twelve main winds in Latin, with north oriented at the bottom. The plate surface is densely engraved with astronomical and astrological data. This includes a scale of degrees and hours, as well as specific zones for almucantars, azimuth lines, unequal hour lines, and twelve astrological houses. These details provide a comprehensive surface for solar and stellar calculations, despite the unusual structural configuration of the instrument.
- Rete and Astronomical Indicators
- The rete is a simplified construction consisting only of the ecliptic circle and the lower portion of the Capricorn band. The latter is noted for its decorative termination, shaped like the head and tail of a dragon. There are 28 star pointers, all shaped as simple points, with individual star names inscribed in Latin. The ecliptic circle itself includes a degree scale. The central portion of the plate is engraved for astrolabe functionality, featuring almucantars marked every degree and numbered from 5 to 80. Azimuth lines, also spaced at five-degree intervals, are included to aid in determining celestial positioning. These markings work in conjunction with the rete to facilitate the tracking of various astronomical events.
- Reverse Plate and Calendar Functions
- The reverse of the plate features a comprehensive set of scales for measurement and timekeeping. This includes a rim degree scale and a shared zodiacal scale, both with Latin labeling. A calendar scale, divided to the day, occupies the central area, with the first point of Aries designated on 10 April. The bottom half of the reverse contains a double shadow scale, while the top right quadrant includes additional zodiacal, unequal hour, and equal hour markings. The alidade, which is plain, features two double sights, allowing for observational use. The absence of the original suspension apparatus is noted, marking a significant change in the physical completeness of the instrument from its period of use.
Identification
- Inventory Number
- 1282
- 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: Maker identity is unknown
- Research required: Suspension apparatus is missing