Brass Astrolabe, 1641 (A.H. 1051)
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1641 (A.H. 1051)
This brass planispheric astrolabe, inventory number 43148, was created in 1641 (A.H. 1051) by the maker Ibrāhīm ibn Sharaf ad-Dīn Ḥusain. The instrument features an Indo-Persian style engraved throne with trefoil-type shackle and an integrated base.
The construction comprises a mater and limb of one-piece design, with the plate tab positioned 180 degrees from the throne. The instrument includes four plates with latitudes between 21 and 66 degrees, and a foliate-type rete with a single rotational copper knob and no marked stars. The back displays ten varied mathematical and astronomical scales, including altitude, declination, cotangent, and shadow squares, alongside a specific inscription commissioned by the Shāh for ʿAbd al-Razzāq Gilānī in Mashhad.
Provenance records indicate the instrument was acquired by Lewis Evans in Paris in 1905, who noted significant bruising to the rim consistent with use as a hammer.
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
- 1641 (A.H. 1051)
- Type
- Arabic-inscribed astrolabe, Iran
- Maker
- Ibrāhīm ibn Sharaf ad-Dīn Ḥusain
- Material
- Brass
- Provenance
- Presented by Lewis Evans in 1924
- Place recorded
- Persia
- Place of origin
- Persia
- Physical condition
- Bruised rim
- Maker / attribution
- Ibrāhīm ibn Sharaf ad-Dīn Ḥusain
- Inscription translation
- By command of the Shāh, our master, the excellent ʿAbd al-Razzāq Gilānī in Mashhad
Design
- Visible features
- • The alidade arm is broken at the left sighting vane. • The rim shows heavy surface bruising. • The throne displays distinct trefoil-shaped decorative elements.
- Construction and Design
- The astrolabe is constructed primarily of brass, featuring an Indo-Persian style throne with integrated base and trefoil decorations. The mater and limb are integrated as a single piece, with the retention tab for the plates located at the 180-degree position relative to the throne. The rete is a foliate, single-knob design made of copper. The instrument is equipped with four plates covering latitudes from 21 to 66 degrees. A double-ended alidade is present, though it is currently damaged.
- Provenance and Condition
- Acquired by Lewis Evans in Paris in 1905, the astrolabe was later presented to the museum in 1924. The provenance notes detail the physical state of the instrument upon acquisition. Evans explicitly recorded that the instrument had sustained substantial damage due to misuse, specifically noting its history as a makeshift hammer, which accounts for the present bruised condition of the outer rim.
- Inscriptions and Mathematical Scales
- The instrument contains complex astronomical functions, including ten distinct scales on the back. These include altitude, declination, sine/cosine, cotangent, and shadow squares, which are arranged in concentric and box-format geometries. The astrolabe is inscribed with a Persian dedication commissioned by the Shāh for ʿAbd al-Razzāq Gilānī in Mashhad. The text specifies the month and year of completion as Shaʿbān 1051.
Identification
- Reference
- 43148
- Accession number
- 1924-0/2004
- 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 inscription includes a terminal '?' suggesting possible uncertainty in the reading of the final words.
- Research required: The function of the instrument as a hammer, while reported in the provenance, is anecdotal.