Brass Astrolabe by Khalīl Muḥammad ibn Ḥasan ‘Alī, ca. 1700
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
ca. 1700
This brass planispheric astrolabe, dating to approximately 1700, was crafted in Iṣfahān by Khalīl Muḥammad ibn Ḥasan ‘Alī. The instrument features a one-piece mater and limb construction with an integrated plate-tab.
The throne is of an engraved, Indo-Persian type, attached via an integrated base, and includes an omega-shaped shackle and a simple circular ring. The instrument is equipped with five plates for latitudes ranging from 22° to 45°. The rete is of the foliate single-knob type, featuring 22 bulb-pointer stars and an ecliptic scale. The back side contains nine distinct astronomical scales, including altitude, unequal hours, sine/cosine, cotangent, and a shadow square.
The maker's signature is located within a cartouche in the shadow square. The astrolabe was purchased by the museum from Major C. E. Ross in 1925, whose father had originally acquired it in Persia.
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. 1700
- Type
- Persian-inscribed astrolabe
- Maker
- Khalīl Muḥammad ibn Ḥasan ‘Alī
- Material
- Brass
- Rete type
- Foliate (single knob)
- Provenance
- Purchased from Major C. E. Ross in 1925
- Place recorded
- Iṣfahān
- Place of origin
- Iṣfahān
- Maker / attribution
- Khalīl Muḥammad ibn Ḥasan ‘Alī
Design
- Visible features
- • Foliate-style rete with 22 bulb-shaped pointers for star positions • Qur'anic inscription present on the front of the throne • Integrated base and omega-shaped shackle for suspension • Double-ended alidade with rigid, simple ends
- Provenance and History
- The history of this astrolabe is documented through institutional correspondence dating to 1925, confirming its purchase by the museum from Major C. E. Ross. The instrument was the first of its kind acquired by the museum to supplement the existing collection. Documentation indicates that the piece was obtained by Major Ross's father during his long tenure as the British government representative in Persia. The provenance is explicitly linked to the Victorian era, during which time it was taken from the region before its eventual entry into the museum's holdings.
- Construction and Design
- The astrolabe is constructed primarily of brass and exhibits a one-piece design for the mater and limb, incorporating an integrated tab to secure the plates. The throne features an engraved Indo-Persian aesthetic, mounted on an integrated base, and serves as the mounting point for an omega-shaped shackle and a plain, circular-section suspension ring. The instrument includes five plates providing latitude settings from 22° to 45°. The foliate-type rete is equipped with 22 stars indicated by bulb pointers and features an ecliptic scale. The back of the instrument hosts nine specific astronomical scales, including altitude, unequal hours, sine/cosine, cotangent, and a shadow square.
- Signatures and Inscriptions
- The instrument bears a clear maker's signature identifying Khalīl Muḥammad ibn Ḥasan ʿAlī, rendered in Arabic and housed within a cartouche situated inside the shadow square on the back. Additionally, the front of the throne is inscribed with a substantial Qur'anic quotation. This text, written in small, precise lettering, is identified as a well-known passage (the Throne Verse), which provides a formal, decorative element to the upper suspension component of the astrolabe.
Identification
- Reference
- 42649
- Inventory number
- 42649
- 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 exact provenance of acquisition in Persia by Major Ross's father during Victorian times remains unverified beyond museum correspondence
- Research required: The precise function of the beaded cord and tassel attachment, while visible, is not explicitly detailed in the source documentation