Astrolabe by Muḥammad Mahdī
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
ca. 1650
This brass astrolabe (inventory number 50122) is attributed to the maker Muḥammad Mahdī and dated to approximately 1650. It features an engraved, Indo-Persian style throne attached to an integrated base, accompanied by an omega-shaped shackle and a simple, round cross-section ring.
The mater and limb are constructed from a single piece of brass, with a stationary plate tab at the instrument's base. The device includes a foliate, replacement rete featuring zodiac signs, as well as a non-original, double-ended alidade described as plain in appearance. The back is inscribed with a maker's signature identifying Muḥammad Mahdī al-Yazdī al-Khādim within a cartouche, and includes a devotional inscription at the bottom edge.
Acquired in 1944, the instrument was formerly part of the collection of R. S. Clay. The piece shows replacement components including the rete and the rule.
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
- ca. 1650
- Type
- Arabic-inscribed astrolabe, Iran
- Maker
- Muḥammad Mahdī
- Material
- Brass
- Signature
- Muḥammad Mahdī al-Yazdī al-Khādim
- Acquisition
- Purchased from R. S. Clay in 1944
- Throne Type
- Indo-Persian, engraved
- Place recorded
- Persia
- Maker / attribution
- Muḥammad Mahdī
Design
- Visible features
- • Foliate, replacement rete present • Plain, double-ended replacement alidade • Engraved Indo-Persian style throne • Omega-shaped shackle
- Structure and Throne
- The astrolabe is constructed primarily from brass, featuring a mater and limb fabricated as a single-piece unit. A tab located at the base of the instrument serves to keep the internal plates stationary. The throne is fashioned in an engraved, Indo-Persian style and is attached to the body via an integrated base. Supporting components include an omega-shaped shackle and a suspension ring characterized by a simple, round cross-section. The limb is marked with a circular, concentric degree scale ranging from 0 to 360 degrees, with intervals marked every 5 degrees.
- Replacement Components
- The instrument includes several parts noted as not being original to the primary manufacture. Specifically, the rete, which is of a foliate, plain type, is catalogued as a replacement and features a thick, soldered spacer at its center. This rete displays the zodiac signs in their standard order. The rule and the double-ended alidade are also noted as replacements. The alidade is described as remarkably plain, rigid, and featuring single pinholes, distinguishing it from the primary metalwork of the instrument's main body.
- Signature and Inscriptions
- The reverse of the instrument features two distinct inscriptions. One is a formal maker's signature located within a cartouche, which identifies the creator as Muḥammad Mahdī al-Yazdī al-Khādim. A second inscription, positioned at the bottom edge of the back, conveys the sentiment that the purpose of the engraving is to ensure it remains after the maker. The front of the instrument also bears an inscription, though the catalogue records that the content along the limb has become illegible. Religious text, identified as a Qur'anic verse, is present on the instrument.
Identification
- Serial number
- 50122
- Inventory Number
- 50122
- 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: Rete and rule are identified as replacements by the cataloguer
- Research required: Specific limb inscription is reported as illegible