Dial from an astronomical instrument
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
17th century
This object is a convex, gilt copper dial disc, believed to be a component from a complex astronomical or astrological clock. The disc was originally cut from a flat, rectangular base plate, which accounts for its current convex shape and the irregular circular voids where three smaller dials were once positioned.
The surface is extensively decorated with engraved and ringmatted figures set against floral, tree, and cloud motifs. These figures include personifications of Saturn, angels, courtly huntsmen, and scholars using scientific instruments such as astrolabes. The piece reflects complex metalworking techniques involving engraving, punching, and gilding, with evidence of later modifications, including additional screw holes, suggesting it was adapted for a secondary, unknown purpose after the original instrument was dismantled.
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
- Type
- Dial
- Origin
- Iran, probably Isfahan
- Material
- copper, engraved, punched and gilded
- Dimensions
- 80.5 cm diameter, 8 cm height
- Provenance
- Exhibited at the International Exhibition of Persian Art, 1931
- Modification
- Secondary screw holes added
- Place recorded
- Iran
Design
- Visible features
- • Three blank, circular areas once intended for dials • Engraved figurative scenes of hunters, angels, and scholars • Ringmatted background with floral and cloud decorations • Central and peripheral holes for attachment
- Structural Analysis
- The object is a convex, circular copper disc, measuring 80.5 cm in diameter. It possesses three blank, circular spaces that were originally intended to accommodate smaller dials. The structural evidence suggests these spaces were once part of a flat, rectangular base plate before the disc was cut and beaten into its present convex form. The center of each blank area features a large hole for dial attachment, complemented by numerous smaller holes across the plate used for fastening additional internal components of the original instrument. Some later screw holes suggest the disc was repurpsed after its initial removal, potentially mounted on a surface, indicated by green paint remnants found along the lower edge.
- Historical Interpretation
- First brought to modern attention in the 1931 International Exhibition of Persian Art, the object was initially catalogued simply as a part of an astronomical instrument. Ralph Harari, in 1939, described it as a unique, mutilated, and incomplete dial, theorizing its association with a large astronomical clock. This assessment remains the prevailing expert opinion on the item's origin. While the figures and imagery clearly draw from a mix of Persian courtly culture and European anatomical tradition, the exact configuration of the original instrument is lost. The survival of such a large copper disc, despite its modification and secondary use, provides insight into 17th-century Iranian metalwork and the integration of scientific and astrological motifs in luxury horological objects of the period.
- Iconography and Decoration
- The surface decoration is divided into celestial and terrestrial registers. The upper section features a personification of Saturn with seven arms, each holding a distinct attribute. Below this, two angels are depicted in flight. The central area depicts two scientists with assistants, one utilizing a mariner's astrolabe and the other a planispheric astrolabe. Further down, Safavid courtly figures are shown engaged in hunting, including a horseman shooting a lion. At the base, a Zodiac Man diagram represents the astrological belief in the influence of zodiac signs on human anatomy. This motif is derived from the Venetian Fasciculus medicinae of 1493. Notably, the engraving is set against a ringmatted ground and gilded, with floral plants occupying the lower terrestrial zone and swirling clouds filling the upper registers. Some areas remain blank or incomplete due to the cutting process. A Zodiac Man motif, influenced by European 15th-century prints, appears at the base.
Identification
- 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: Original function as part of an astronomical clock is presumed but not confirmed
- Research required: The exact nature of its secondary use after dismantling remains unidentified