Astrolabe by Ḍiyā’ ad-Dīn Muḥammad
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1658/9
This brass astrolabe (inventory number 53637) dates to 1658/9 and was produced in Lahore by the maker Ḍiyā’ ad-Dīn Muḥammad. The object is of one-piece construction, comprising a mater and limb, and features an Indo-Persian, pierced-type throne with an integrated base, a squared-section ring, and a trefoil shackle.
The instrument includes five latitude plates ranging from 18°0' to 66°0', and a foliate-type rete. The back of the instrument contains 15 distinct scales, including altitude, declination, prayer lines, and zodiacal signs. It is accompanied by a double-ended alidade which is identified as a replacement. The astrolabe was presented to the History of Science Museum by Lewis Evans in 1924, who had previously purchased the instrument from Vitali Francis Frères in Algeria in 1911.
The object remains in the collection of the History of Science Museum, University of Oxford.
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
- 1658/9
- Type
- Arabic-inscribed astrolabe, Indian subcontinent
- Maker
- Ḍiyā’ ad-Dīn Muḥammad
- Alidade
- Replacement
- Material
- Brass
- Provenance
- Presented by Lewis Evans in 1924
- Place recorded
- Lahore
- Latitude plates
- 5
- Maker / attribution
- Ḍiyā’ ad-Dīn Muḥammad
- Place of manufacture
- Lahore
Design
- Visible features
- • Throne features three large flowers in the center section • Rete is of the foliate single-knob type • Back features a shadow square with four faces
- Scales and Plates
- The instrument includes five plates providing latitude coverage from 18°0' to 66°0'. The back of the astrolabe is highly complex, containing 15 scales of various types, including altitude, declination, prayer lines, sine/cosine, cotangent, zodiacal signs, lunar mansions, terms, faces, shadow squares, and triplicities. The limb features a degree scale ranging from 0 to 360 degrees, with markings every 5 degrees. The womb of the astrolabe is engraved with a gazetteer containing lists of cities organized by their respective climates. The shadow square on the back is divided into four faces, with the left-hand vertical and bottom faces marked 1-7 in feet, and the right-hand bottom and vertical faces marked 1-12 in feet.
- Provenance and History
- The object was added to the collection of the History of Science Museum at the University of Oxford following a presentation by Lewis Evans in 1924. Its documented provenance indicates that Evans had acquired the piece earlier, purchasing it from the firm Vitali Francis Frères located in Algeria during 1911. The current configuration of the instrument includes a double-ended alidade, which is catalogued as a replacement rather than an original component. This alidade shows slight decorative elements surrounding its central hole, and its construction includes both sine/cosine and unequal hours scales on its right arm.
- Construction and Design
- The astrolabe is a brass instrument of one-piece construction for the mater and limb. It features an Indo-Persian style throne that is pierced and attached via an integrated base. The central section of this throne is decorated with three large flowers. The suspension system consists of a simple ring with a squared cross-section, attached to a trefoil-type shackle. The shackle connects to the throne via large, simple tabs. The rete is designed in a foliate, single-knob style. The zodiacal labels on the rete represent the twelve signs from Aries to Pisces. The entire assembly is held together by a pin and wedge mechanism; the pin is undecorated, while the wedge features a shaped tab that is noted as being more decorative than the pin.
Identification
- Serial number
- 53637
- Inventory number
- 53637
- 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 alidade is noted to be a replacement and not original to the instrument
- Research required: The rete contains no star pointers