Astrolabe by Muḥammad Muqīm
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
ca. 1650
This brass astrolabe is attributed to the maker Muḥammad Muqīm and dated to approximately 1650. Constructed in Lahore, the instrument features an Indo-Persian, pierced-style throne, which culminates in a trefoil and is attached via an integrated base.
The mater and limb are formed of one-piece construction. The back of the instrument is engraved with 14 distinct scales, including those for altitude, sine/cosine, declination, cotangent, and shadow squares, alongside astrological markers such as zodiacal signs, terms, faces, and triplicities. The womb contains a comprehensive gazetteer listing coordinates for 77 cities. The object was presented to the History of Science Museum by J.
A. Billmeir in 1957, having previously been part of the Henri Michel 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
- Date
- ca. 1650
- Type
- Arabic-inscribed astrolabe, Indian subcontinent
- Maker
- Muḥammad Muqīm
- Material
- Brass
- Provenance
- Acquired via the collection of Henri Michel by J. A. Billmeir.
- Star count
- 42 stars
- Place recorded
- Lahore
- Place of origin
- Lahore
- Maker / attribution
- Muḥammad Muqīm
Design
- Visible features
- • Throne features a pierced Indo-Persian design ending in a trefoil. • Rete includes 42 stars with foliate-style pointers. • Womb contains a gazetteer table with coordinates for 77 cities. • Back plate includes shadow squares for both fingers and feet.
- Construction and Design
- The instrument is fabricated from brass and follows a traditional Indo-Persian layout. It features a pierced throne attached to an integrated base, terminating in a trefoil shape. The ring follows a simple round cross-section design, and the shackle is similarly of the trefoil type, open at the base. The mater and limb are manufactured as a one-piece construction. A tab intended to hold the tympans in position is located at the bottom of the instrument, precisely 180 degrees from the throne. The circular degree scale on the limb is marked every five degrees, covering 0 to 360 degrees.
- Provenance and Documentation
- The object is held under inventory number 37530. It was donated to the collection by J. A. Billmeir in 1957. The object's history is linked to the Belgian collector Henri Michel, from whom Billmeir purchased the collection circa 1950. The womb of the instrument features a gazetteer containing coordinate data for 77 cities, ranging from regional centers like Lahore and Delhi to locations as far as Sarandib and Bulghar.
- Rete and Astronomical Markings
- The rete, which functions as a star map, is of the foliate type and includes 42 marked stars. Each star is designated with a specific foliate pointer. The zodiacal band on the rete is inscribed with names in Arabic. The back of the astrolabe is densely inscribed with 14 distinct functional scales. These include quadrants for altitude and cotangents, as well as trigonometric and astrological scales such as sine/cosine, declination, zodiacal signs, faces, triplicities, and lunar mansions. The shadow square includes both finger and foot measurements.
Identification
- Serial number
- 37530
- Accession number
- 1957-84/3
- Inventory number
- 37530
- 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: Specific identities for some star pointers remain unverified.
- Research required: The precise origin of the metallurgical brass composition is not specified.