Astrolabe by Muḥammad ibn Fattūḥ al-Khamā’irī
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1224/5 (A.H. 621)
This brass astrolabe (inventory 50934) was produced by the maker Muḥammad ibn Fattūḥ al-Khamā’irī in Seville in A.H. 621 (1224/5). The instrument features a one-piece construction for the mater and limb, which includes a degree scale divided every 5 degrees.
The back displays seven distinct scales, including altitude, zodiacal signs, a calendar, a perpetual calendar, a shadow square, and cotangent scales. It was acquired in 1924 as part of the Lewis Evans collection, having previously passed through an Edinburgh shop in 1876.
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
- 1224/5 (A.H. 621)
- Type
- Arabic-inscribed astrolabe, Iberia
- Maker
- Muḥammad ibn Fattūḥ al-Khamā’irī
- Plates
- 5 plates
- Material
- Brass
- Rete type
- Indicator-line (simple)
- Acquisition
- 1924, from Lewis Evans
- Place recorded
- Seville
- Place of origin
- Seville
- Maker / attribution
- Muḥammad ibn Fattūḥ al-Khamā’irī
Design
- Visible features
- • Maker's signature in Arabic on the throne • Four silver knobs on the rete • Double-ended, counter-changed alidade • Integrated throne base
- Construction and Design
- The limb is graduated with a degree scale marked every five degrees, facilitating basic angular measurements. The device uses an eye-bolt type shackle for suspension, which connects to the throne via a bracket. The instrument includes five specific plates designed for latitudes ranging from 31°0' to 40°0'. The rete, which features zero marked stars in the catalogue entry, is a simple indicator-line type. For manipulation, it incorporates four silver knobs. The entire assembly is secured by a central nut and bolt, where the shank is square-fitted into the alidade to ensure co-linearity between the front-facing pointer and the rear-mounted alidade.
- Provenance and Condition
- The astrolabe has been part of the University of Oxford’s History of Science Museum collections since 1924, when it was presented by Lewis Evans. Records indicate that Evans obtained the item from his collaborator, E. B. Knobel, in 1911. Knobel had previously purchased the instrument in 1876 from a second-hand furniture shop in Edinburgh. The records note a historical association with the sale of a Colonel North, though this remains an anecdotal account of its earlier history. Regarding its condition, the report states that the sights, which were original components of the double-ended, counter-changed alidade, are now missing.
- Signature and Back Scales
- The instrument bears a clear maker's signature located on the throne, written in Arabic. The translation identifies the maker as Muḥammad ibn Fattūḥ al-Khamāʾirī and specifies the date of creation as A.H. 621. This provides a precise attribution for the manufacture of the piece in Seville. The back of the astrolabe is highly complex, featuring seven distinct scale types. These are arranged in concentric circular patterns and include scales for altitude, zodiacal signs, a calendar, and a perpetual calendar. Additionally, the instrument contains a shadow square with its four faces, and two cotangent scales located in the lower quadrants. These scales provide the primary functionality for the user, allowing for astronomical calculations and timekeeping functions based on altitude and date.
Identification
- Inventory number
- 50934
- 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: Original sights are missing from the alidade
- Research required: Star pointers are not marked with star names in the source description