Astrolabe by 'Abd al-A'imma, 1719/20 (A.H. 1132)
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1719/20 (A.H. 1132)
This brass astrolabe, inventory number 46681, was produced in Iṣfahān and dated 1132 A.H. (1719/20). The instrument is signed by the maker It was commissioned for ‘Alīqulī, a prince of the royal Safavid family.
The device features an indo-persian style throne with an integrated base, an omega-type shackle, and a plain, double-ended alidade. The mater and limb are constructed as a single unit. The back surface accommodates 16 distinct scales, including altitude, sine/cosine, and cotangent, alongside a shadow square. A rete of the foliate type is attached via a pin and horse assembly. The instrument was donated to the History of Science Museum, Oxford, by J.
A. Billmeir in 1957, following its acquisition from the Parisian dealer Nicolas Landau.
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
- 1719/20 (A.H. 1132)
- Type
- Persian-inscribed astrolabe
- Maker
- ‘Abd al-A’imma
- Place
- Iṣfahān
- Signature
- Signed by the maker
- Place recorded
- Iṣfahān
- Maker / attribution
- ‘Abd al-A’imma
Design
- Visible features
- • Throne features decorative foliage engraving • Alidade is plain and lacks scales or engravings • The horse assembly depicts detailed facial features • The womb contains a gazetteer with city names
- Provenance and History
- This instrument is recorded in the collection of the History of Science Museum, Oxford, under accession number 1957-84/167, having been presented by J. A. Billmeir in 1957. Prior to this, the astrolabe was purchased from the Parisian dealer and collector Nicolas Landau between 1955 and 1957. Documentation suggests the object was originally commissioned by ‘Alīqulī, a prince of the Safavid royal family.
- Construction and Design
- The astrolabe is fabricated from brass, utilizing a one-piece construction for the mater and limb. It incorporates an indo-persian, engraved throne, which is secured by an integrated base and topped with a spade-shaped tab for the shackle connection. The shackle is of the omega style, characterized by ornate detailing. The instrument is held together with a pin and horse assembly; while the pin is plain, the horse is crafted with distinct features including eyes, nostrils, mouth, ears, and mane. The foliate-type rete lacks star pointers. A simple, squared cross-section ring is used for carrying. The double-ended alidade remains in its original, plain form, specifically noted for the absence of scales or additional decorative engravings. The tab responsible for securing the tympans is positioned at 180 degrees from the throne.
- Scales and Inscriptions
- The back of the astrolabe is densely inscribed with 16 functional scales, including those for altitude, declination, azimuth of Qibla, sine/cosine, cotangent, and a shadow square, among others. The shadow square is divided into feet and fingers. The back plate also carries the maker's signature and date, rendered as '‘Abd al-A’imma made and decorated this. 1132'. The womb features a gazetteer with city names embossed against a patterned background, supplemented by data on longitude, latitude, inḥirāf, and the jihā. The limb features a degree scale ranging from 0 to 360, marked at five-degree intervals.
Identification
- Accession
- 1957-84/167
- Reference
- 46681
- Inventory Number
- 46681
- 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: The exact extent of the maker's workshop and his collaborators remains historical speculation
- Research required: The historical purpose of the instrument as a royal commission is source-attributed but not independently verified