Astrolabe by Abd al-A'immah
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1715
This brass astrolabe was produced in Isfahan, Iran, and is dated to 1715. It is signed by the maker, Abd al-A'immah, with the inscription located within a cartouche on the back of the instrument below the shadow square.
The object measures 19.6 cm in height, 12.5 cm in width, and has a diameter of 11 cm. It is constructed from brass sheet that has been cut and engraved with decorative patterns and inscriptions. The design includes a rete, which is a rotating disk designed to map the stars using a series of pointers. The surface features intricate engravings and text, including Persian verses in naskh or nastaliq scripts. As a scientific instrument, it serves to facilitate astronomical calculations and observations, consistent with the production of similar instruments in 18th-century Iran where such devices were frequently associated with courtly practices.
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
- Astrolabe
- Maker
- Abd al-A'immah
- Location
- Isfahan, Iran
- Materials
- Brass
- Dimensions
- 19.6 cm x 12.5 cm x 11 cm
- Place recorded
- Iran
- Maker / attribution
- Abd al-A'immah
- Inscription Location
- Cartouche below shadow square
Design
- Visible features
- • The back features an alidade (sighting rule) pivoting at the center. • The top suspension assembly includes a decorated kursi (throne). • The reverse displays an engraved shadow square grid. • The circular rim is heavily inscribed with text.
- Scientific Components
- The device functions as an astrolabe, a traditional instrument for astronomical measurement. Its primary components include the rete for stellar tracking and the alidade, or sighting rule, visible on the reverse. The back of the instrument incorporates a shadow square, a geometric tool used for height and distance calculations. These elements allow for the measurement of celestial positions and timekeeping. The configuration of the grids and the pointers on the rete are essential to its intended use in calculating astronomical data, which remained a focus of instrument makers in Isfahan during the early 18th century.
- Construction and Decoration
- The instrument is composed of a brass sheet that has been shaped through cutting and subsequent engraving. The outer circular body supports a rotating rete, which incorporates patterns featuring vine scrolls and leaf-shaped pointers used for stellar mapping. The entire exterior surface, including the rims and the back, is finished with dense engraved patterns and calligraphic inscriptions. The top of the astrolabe features a pierced, floral-engraved suspension element, referred to as the kursi or throne, which connects the main circular body to the suspension ring.
- Signatures and Inscriptions
- The instrument bears a signature identifying the maker as Abd al-A'immah. This inscription is positioned on the reverse of the astrolabe, specifically placed within a dedicated cartouche located below the shadow square. These inscriptions are integrated into the geometric and ornamental borders surrounding the central calculation grids on the back and along the periphery of the device.
Identification
- 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 source does not explicitly describe the condition of the metal surface or the completeness of all components.
- Research required: The specific meaning of all inscriptions on the rim and rete is not fully translated in the provided record.