Astrolabe by Muḥammad Ṣaffār
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1481/2
This brass astrolabe, inventory number 39063, is an astronomical instrument manufactured in Persia in 1481/2 by the maker Muḥammad Ṣaffār. It features a mater and limb of one-piece construction, with an Indo-Persian style throne attached to an integrated base.
The instrument incorporates an omega-shaped shackle and a round-section suspension ring. The back contains Kufic and Nashki script inscriptions, including the maker's signature and a shadow square, alongside seven functional scales including altitude, declination, and sine/cosine. The instrument includes four plates covering latitudes from 21° to 36°, and a gazetteer within the womb listing coordinates for 31 cities.
The rete, of a foliate type, is broken near the ecliptic.
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
- 1481/2
- Type
- Arabic-inscribed astrolabe, Iran
- Maker
- Muḥammad Ṣaffār
- Material
- Brass
- Provenance
- Presented by Lewis Evans in 1924
- Inscription
- Maker's signature referencing the year 886
- Latitude Range
- 21° to 36°
- Place recorded
- Persia
- Maker / attribution
- Muḥammad Ṣaffār
Design
- Visible features
- • Maker's signature in Arabic script on the back of the instrument. • Replacement alidade and horse visible on the rete and back. • Inscribed name of Muḥammad Hāshim on the throne. • Presence of a shadow square in the lower half of the back.
- Rete and Back Design
- The zodiacal signs are inscribed on the rete in Arabic. The rete structure is noted as broken just above the center within the ecliptic, which itself displays variable and inconsistent divisions. The back of the instrument hosts two distinct scripts: Kufic and Nashki. It is laid out with seven specialized scales used for calculations, including altitude, declination, sine/cosine, cotangent, and shadow squares. The maker's signature is located in the lower half of the back. A shadow square is present, accompanied by an inscription regarding the shadows of the fingers and feet. The back of the throne shows a partial, incomplete attempt at inscribing the maker's name.
- Construction and Mater
- The astrolabe is constructed primarily of brass and features a one-piece mater and limb. The limb includes a degree scale covering 0 to 360 degrees of arc, marked at 5-degree intervals. The instrument is suspended via a simple, round-section ring connected to an omega-shaped shackle, which features inverted tear-drop shaped tabs. The throne is of an Indo-Persian style, attached to an integrated base, and remains largely undecorated except for vertical lines on the front and back. The womb contains a gazetteer with geographical coordinates for 31 cities ranging from Herat to Balkh. A pin is positioned in the lower section of the womb to secure the tympans and prevent them from rotating during use.
- Provenance and History
- The instrument was acquired by the History of Science Museum through a presentation by Lewis Evans in 1924. According to historical records, Evans purchased the astrolabe in 1921 from I. Sassoon & Co., a London-based antique dealer. The dealers indicated that the piece originated from the 'celebrated' Richard Collection. This collection gained recognition through its display at the 1889 Paris exhibition and was dispersed shortly after the event. Condition reports note that the rule, or alidade, does not original fit the instrument and appears to have been engraved by a different hand, indicating it is a replacement. Furthermore, the horse is suspected to be a later addition.
Identification
- Reference
- 39063
- Inventory Number
- 39063
- 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 horse and alidade are reported as likely replacements.
- Research required: The name Muḥammad Hāshim, inscribed on the throne, is identified as a potential early owner rather than the maker.
- Research required: The ecliptic division is described as variable and poorly executed.