Astrolabe, ca. 1300 (e20760)
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
ca. 1300
This brass astrolabe (inventory number 45307), dated to approximately 1300, is attributed to Spain. The instrument features a one-piece mater and limb construction.
The throne follows a moorish-arch style, designed as a fleur-de-lis flanked by crouching lions. The back of the instrument incorporates four distinct scales including a degree scale, zodiacal signs, calendar, and a shadow square. The rete consists of an indicator-line type design, marked with 25 stars identified by dagger pointers, featuring zoomorphic bird star pointers for select stars such as alcair, alferat, and algorab.
The rete also displays zodiacal labels. The instrument is equipped with original double-ended, counter-changed rules and is attached with a pin and horse. The piece was presented by J. A. Billmeir in 1957 and was previously held by the collector and dealer Nicolas Landau of Paris.
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
- ca. 1300
- Type
- Latin-inscribed astrolabe
- Dealer
- Nicolas Landau
- Material
- Brass
- Provenance
- Presented by J. A. Billmeir in 1957
- Star Count
- 25
- Throne Type
- Moorish-arch
- Place recorded
- Spain (?)
Design
- Visible features
- • Throne features crouching lions on either side of a fleur-de-lis • Rete includes bird-shaped star pointers • Shadow square occupies the lower-left and lower-right quadrants of the back
- Construction and Design
- The astrolabe is manufactured from brass and features a integrated base construction for the throne. The throne itself is of a moorish-arch type, incorporating a fleur-de-lis motif with crouching lions engraved on both the front and back. The ring connected to the shackle is a simple circular cross-section piece. The mater and the limb are made in a single-piece construction. The limb contains circular, concentric scales for degrees ranging from 0 to 360 and an equal hours scale for marking the times of day from 1 to 12.
- Provenance and Back Scales
- The back of the instrument contains four primary scales: degree, zodiacal, calendar, and a shadow square. The shadow square consists of four faces, each calibrated to 12 fingers with markings every two fingers. The object was acquired by J. A. Billmeir between 1955 and 1957 from Nicolas Landau, a Parisian collector and dealer. The accession number is 1957-84/173.
- Rete and Celestial Markings
- The rete is designed as an indicator-line type featuring moorish-arch style bases for the star pointers. It displays 25 stars marked with dagger pointers. Certain stars are specifically indicated with zoomorphic bird-shaped pointers, including alcair, alferat, venterceti, algorab, elfeta, and razalage. The ecliptic is marked with zodiacal signs, including Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces. The rete is attached to the main body via a pin and horse arrangement.
Identification
- Inventory Number
- 45307
- 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: Place of manufacture is uncertain and noted as 'Spain (?)' by the source
- Research required: Provenance details suggest heraldic significance on the throne but the owner remains unidentified