Brass Astrolabe
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
ca. 1370
This brass astrolabe (inventory no. 49359) is attributed to England, circa 1370. The instrument features a Y-shaped (low) rete with 19 stars and zoomorphic pointers, including a bird for Vega, a dog's head for Sirius, and a dragon's head for Antares.
The mater and limb are of one-piece construction. The back includes scales for zodiacal signs, altitude, calendar, and a shadow square, alongside an incomplete semi-circular scale. The throne is a simple brass type with an integrated base, featuring a simple round-section ring and a comet-shaped shackle. The instrument is equipped with a plate for latitude 51°0', a double-ended rule, and a counter-changed alidade. It was presented to the History of Science Museum by A.
E. Gunther in 1986.
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. 1370
- Type
- Latin-inscribed astrolabe
- Latitude
- 51°0'
- Material
- Brass
- Acquisition
- Presented by A. E. Gunther in 1986
- Place recorded
- England (?)
- Shackle design
- Comet
- Rete star count
- 19
- Place of manufacture
- England (?)
Design
- Visible features
- • The shackle is uniquely designed to resemble a comet with a fiery head and long tail. • The rete includes zoomorphic pointers for Vega, Sirius, and Antares. • The alidade is double-ended and counter-changed. • The shadow square on the back is divided into four sections, each numbered to 12 fingers.
- Construction and Layout
- The astrolabe consists of a mater and limb of one-piece construction, with the notch for plate tabs positioned at the throne. The throne is of a simple design with an integrated base and holds a ring of round cross-section. The shackle exhibits a distinctive shape, modeled after a comet complete with a fiery head and a trailing tail. The back of the instrument contains several concentric scales, including zodiacal signs, altitude, calendar, and a shadow square divided into four parts. An incomplete semi-circular scale is located in the upper two quadrants, which the source suggests may have been intended for an epact or other calendrical function.
- Provenance and Historical Context
- The astrolabe formed part of the Gunther Collection, which was initially deposited on loan to the museum in 1940 by the executors of R. T. Gunther. The specific acquisition history of this item remains undocumented by R. T. Gunther himself. Notably, the instrument does not appear in his 1932 catalog, The Astrolabes of the World. The instrument is grouped with 14th-century 'Chaucerian' astrolabes, sharing design similarities with the 'Painswick' astrolabe. These instruments are considered to represent the type of astrolabe that Geoffrey Chaucer intended to present to his son, Lewis, for his studies in Oxford.
- The Rete and Astronomical Features
- The rete is constructed in a low, Y-shape and serves as a mount for 19 stars, each marked with a flamant pointer. A key stylistic feature of this instrument is the presence of three zoomorphic star pointers: a small bird pointing to Vega, a dog's head for Sirius, and a dragon's head for Antares. The rete also features ecliptic and lunar cycle scales. The zodiac scale on the rete is inscribed in a Latinized form, listing the signs from Aries through Pisces.
Identification
- Inventory number
- 49359
- 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 provenance of the instrument is not recorded by R. T. Gunther, and it is excluded from his 1932 publication 'The Astrolabes of the World'.
- Research required: The small brad securing the rete is considered a likely replacement.