Astrolabe, 1781
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1781
This astrolabe, dated to 1781, comprises a brass mater, a rete, seven engraved plates, an alidade, and a central pin with a horse. The complex structure includes a kursi, which is an extension at the top ending in a suspension loop.
This variety suggests that the instrument is a composite piece. The total weight is 2.9 kg, and the instrument measures 35.5 cm in height with a diameter of 20.3 cm. The accuracy of the scientific data engraved on the plates remains unverified.
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
- 1781
- Type
- Astrolabe
- Maker
- 'Abd al-Ghafur
- Weight
- 2.9 kg
- Dimensions
- 35.5 cm high x 20.3 cm diameter
- Place recorded
- Iran
- Maker / attribution
- 'Abd al-Ghafur
- Place of manufacture
- Urmia, Iran
Design
- Visible features
- • Kursi features complex shape and structure with a suspension loop • Rete shows openwork star map configuration • Alidade is present on the reverse • Plates show two distinct engraving styles for latitude captions
- Provenance and Commission
- The engraving includes details regarding the latitude settings, which allow for the device to be used at various locations between 29° N and 40° N. While the scientific data has been recorded on the device, its accuracy has not been formally assessed by the collection. The identification of Urmia as the site of manufacture is derived from the captions engraved on the plates themselves.
- Construction and Components
- The astrolabe is constructed from metal and follows a standard configuration including a mater, or casing, which holds the internal components. Attached to the top of the mater is the kursi, a structured extension that terminates in a loop designed to hold a suspension cord for practical use. The central assembly consists of a rete, which features an openwork design representing a star map, and a central pin secured by a horse. The instrument includes seven distinct plates, all engraved on both sides to provide thirteen specific latitude settings. These plates, alongside the alidade, serve as the functional components for the astrolabe. The material construction is primarily brass, resulting in a weight of 2.9 kilograms and a diameter of 20.3 centimeters. The instrument was manufactured in Urmia, Iran, by the maker 'Abd al-Ghafur. The instrument was commissioned by a resident of Urmia, Iran, where it was also manufactured by the maker 'Abd al-Ghafur in 1781.
- Engraving and Composite Nature
- The inscriptions on the plates indicate a range of latitudes from 29° N to 46° N. Examination of the engraving styles reveals two distinct formats. In the first format, text is presented unframed over a background of plant-based ornamentation. In the second, the latitude information is contained within scalloped cartouches. The coexistence of these disparate engraving styles on the set of seven plates suggests that the astrolabe is a composite object. This is further indicated by the inclusion of duplicate plates for 30° N and inconsistencies in the labeling of latitude values and the length of the longest day.
Identification
- Accession number
- M.826-1928
- 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: Scientific accuracy of the engraved data has not been assessed
- Research required: Presence of varied plate formats suggests the instrument may be a composite object