Astrolabe by Anthoine Mestrel
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1551
This gilt brass astrolabe, measuring 256 mm in diameter, was made by Anthoine Mestrel in Paris in 1551. It lacks traditional plates and instead utilizes a universal projection developed by the mathematician Juan de Rojas, designed to function at any latitude.
The instrument is equipped with an elaborately pierced throne featuring a head and ornamental scrolls, accompanied by a shackle and suspension ring. It features a removable zodiacal calendar plate and incorporates complex scales for right ascension, declination, and time conversion. The instrument also includes a rule and an alidade with pinhole sights. The astrolabe is signed '+AN+THOIT+NE+' / 'MES+TREL APARIS' and dated 1551.
Its design and technical components closely resemble the instruments illustrated in Juan de Rojas's 1551 publication, Commentariorum in astrolabium, although a direct relationship between the specific book and this instrument remains unconfirmed by researchers.
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
- 1551
- Type
- French astrolabe
- Maker
- Anthoine Mestrel
- Diameter
- 256 mm
- Material
- Gilt brass
- Signature
- +AN+THOIT+NE+ MES+TREL APARIS
- Place recorded
- France
- Maker / attribution
- Anthoine Mestrel
Design
- Visible features
- • Throne features a central head with scrollwork • Mater is made from a single brass plate • One side bears a universal projection of the Rojas type • Includes a double shadow square on the central space
- Construction and Design
- The astrolabe is constructed of gilt brass and measures 256 mm in diameter. It is distinguished by an elaborately shaped, pierced throne that incorporates a human head flanked by ornamental scrolls, fitted with a shackle and suspension ring. Unlike traditional instruments of this type, it does not rely on a standard set of plates. Instead, it utilizes a universal projection associated with the Spanish mathematician Juan de Rojas, which allows the user to operate the instrument at any latitude. The mater is fabricated from a single brass plate and houses a removable, rotatable plate engraved with a zodiacal calendar containing Latin month names and day counts. The central area on the reverse is partitioned, with the upper portion providing diagrams for converting between equal and unequal hours, and the lower portion featuring a double shadow square marked 'VMBRAVERSA' and 'VMBRARECTA'.
- Attribution and Literature
- The instrument is signed '+AN+THOIT+NE+' / 'MES+TREL APARIS' and dated 1551. It is held by the Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, under inventory number 32378. The instrument bears a notable resemblance to illustrations found in the 1551 text 'Commentariorum in astrolabium' by Juan de Rojas, also published in Paris. While the decorative motifs and technical specifications align with the designs presented in the Rojas publication, the specific connection between this instrument and the book has not been confirmed. Academic references include J. Bennett and S. Johnston's 1996 work, 'The Geometry of War 1500-1750', which discusses these specific types of astrolabes.
- Technical Scales and Markings
- The instrument features extensive mathematical engravings. One side features a universal projection with an outer degree scale and right ascension lines drawn for every 12 minutes. These lines are intersected by declination parallels for every 2 degrees of the sun's position in the ecliptic. Hour markings include both ante and post meridiem designations. The reverse side features a limb scale of hours, a degree scale, and a calendar scale with named stars arranged according to their position. The rule is finished with shaped ends and a degree scale, while the alidade is fitted with double pinhole sights and decorated, shaped ends. The arms of the alidade include scales for 'HOR? ORTVS' and 'HOR? OCCASVS', with corresponding divisions for time measurement.
Identification
- Inventory Number
- 32378
- 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 relationship between this specific instrument and the book by Rojas remains unknown
- Research required: The spelling of 'ANTACTICVS' on the instrument is noted as an error in the source