Astrolabe by Muhammad Khalil and Muhammad Mahdi
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1667
This astrolabe, designated M.38-1916 in the Victoria and Albert Museum collection, was produced in Isfahan, Iran, in 1667. Constructed from brass, the instrument is both engraved and chased.
It bears signatures identifying the maker as Muhammad Khalil, son of Husayn 'Ali, and the decorator as Muhammad Mahdi, son of Amin of Yazd. Measuring 18.6 cm in height, the object consists of a main casing, known as the mater, which houses interchangeable solid plates engraved for specific latitudes. An openwork disc, or rete, acts as a star map with pointers for identifying stellar positions. A sighting device called an alidade is used for observational purposes.
The museum suggests it could have been used in scientific enquiry and might have served religious purposes, such as telling the times of the five daily prayers or establishing the direction of Mecca; it notes that astrolabes were also used to cast horoscopes. It is part of the Clarke-Thornhill Gift collection.
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
- Muhammad Khalil, Muhammad Mahdi
- Materials
- Engraved and chased brass
- Dimensions
- 18.6 cm height
- Object Type
- Astrolabe
- Place recorded
- Iran
- Place of Origin
- Iran
- Maker / attribution
- Muhammad Khalil, Muhammad Mahdi
Design
- Visible features
- • Intricately pierced openwork rete featuring foliate patterns • Circular outer rim with engraved calligraphic inscriptions • Throne at the top with a suspension ring and attached textile cord • Sighting device spanning the diameter of the central disc
- Construction and Design
- The astrolabe is fabricated from brass, utilizing engraving and chasing techniques to create its complex decorative and functional surfaces. It features a central mater that houses several solid plates. These plates are individually engraved to correspond with specific geographical latitudes, allowing the user to adapt the instrument for different locations. The rete, or star map, is designed with elaborate, pierced openwork that incorporates foliate motifs. This component acts as a celestial chart, with pointers indicating the relative positions of stars. The entire assembly is suspended via a throne at the top, which includes a loop and suspension ring for handling and mounting during observations.
- Signatures and Attribution
- The instrument includes specific inscriptions identifying the individuals responsible for its creation. The museum records attribute the manufacture of the astrolabe to Muhammad Khalil, the son of Husayn 'Ali. The ornamental engraving and decoration were executed by Muhammad Mahdi, who is identified as the son of Amin of Yazd. These signatures distinguish the roles of the maker and the decorator. The museum's brief description gives the place of manufacture as Isfahan and the date as 1667.
- Possible uses recorded by the museum
- The museum describes how an astrolabe of this kind was used: one of the solid latitude plates was placed in the mater beneath the openwork rete, and the rete, a star map with pointers, was moved to the correct position once an observation had been made with the sighting device, the alidade. For this instrument the museum states possibilities rather than a documented history of use: it could have been used in scientific enquiry, and it might have served religious purposes such as telling the times of the five daily prayers or establishing the direction of Mecca. The museum adds that astrolabes were also used in astrology, for example to cast horoscopes.
Identification
- Accession Number
- M.38-1916
- 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 scientific precision of the instrument in its current state is unverified.
- Research required: The function of the attached cord as a contemporary or later addition remains uncertain.