Brass Astrolabe by Sayyid ’Abd al-Baqi
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1789/90
This brass astrolabe is signed by the maker Sayyid ’Abd al-Baqi and dated 1789/90 (A.H. 1204). It features a five-lobed throne with integrated supports and an omega-type shackle.
The instrument is constructed with a soldered and riveted mater and limb assembly, incorporating a tab system on the limb to secure the tympans. The rete is of the foliate type, containing 38 stars marked with foliate pointers and a single rotation knob at the bottom. The instrument includes a gazetteer on the womb listing coordinates for 45 cities. The back of the astrolabe is engraved with three scales for altitude and cotangent measurements; however, the upper right quadrant is blank, suggesting an incomplete state.
This instrument was formerly part of the Henri Michel collection and was acquired by the History of Science Museum, University of Oxford, through a presentation by J. A. Billmeir in 1957.
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
- 1789/90 (A.H. 1204)
- Type
- Arabic-inscribed astrolabe
- Maker
- Sayyid ’Abd al-Baqi
- Material
- Brass
- Provenance
- Billmeir collection via Henri Michel
- Rete Stars
- 38
- Throne Type
- Five-lobed
- Place recorded
- Persia
- Maker / attribution
- Sayyid ’Abd al-Baqi
Design
- Visible features
- • Foliate style rete with 38 labeled stars • Five-lobed throne design with integrated base • Blank upper-right quadrant on the back of the instrument • Gazetteer on the interior womb for 45 cities
- Engravings and Scales
- The back of the instrument contains three distinct scales, including altitude and cotangent markings in the various quadrants. The upper right quadrant, traditionally reserved for qibla lines on instruments of this type, remains blank, indicating that the piece was not finished to the maker's intended scope. The instrument includes a comprehensive gazetteer on the inner womb containing geographical coordinates, inhiraf, and jihat for 45 cities, including Mecca, Baghdad, and Tabriz. The rete displays 38 star markers, all of which are rendered with foliate pointers.
- Construction and Layout
- The astrolabe is manufactured from brass and follows a traditional design comprising a mater, a rete, and tympans. The mater and limb are joined via a soldered and riveted construction. A functional tab on the limb serves to hold the tympans, diverging from the more common practice of using notches in the mater and tabs on the plates. The throne features a five-lobed form with integrated supports and an omega-shaped shackle, facilitating suspension. The rete is of the foliate type, featuring a rotation knob on the tropic of capricorn and a counter-changed east-west line at the ecliptic.
- Provenance and Acquisition
- This astrolabe (inventory number 50059) was acquired by the History of Science Museum, University of Oxford, in 1957. It was presented to the museum by J. A. Billmeir. The object had previously been part of the collection of Henri Michel based in Brussels, which Billmeir acquired circa 1950. The object is attributed to the maker Sayyid ’Abd al-Baqi and dated to 1789/90 (A.H. 1204). The source provides a qualified geographical attribution of Persia.
Identification
- Reference
- 50059
- Inventory Number
- 50059
- 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 pin and wedge assembly is identified as a likely replacement
- Research required: The attribution of manufacture to Persia is provided with a qualification/hedging (Persia (?))