English Astrolabe, late 14th century
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
late 14th century ?
This brass astrolabe, measuring 123 mm in diameter, is of English manufacture, attributed to the late 14th or early 15th century based on stylistic lettering and the inclusion of English saint names and town latitudes on its plates.
The instrument features a trilobal throne and a rete with a distinctive Y-shape within the ecliptic, incorporating 23 star pointers that transition between zoomorphic, worm-like, and bent-sword forms. The mater is empty, and the rim displays an equal 24-hour scale calibrated with letters rather than numerals. Three interchangeable plates provide markings for varied English latitudes ranging from Dover to Berwick. While the main body is historical, the rule, alidade, screw, and pin are identified as 1888 replacements.
The instrument is currently held in the British Museum collection, having been presented to the institution by Maurice Rosenheim in 1914.
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
- English astrolabe
- Diameter
- 123 mm
- Hour Scale
- 24-hour scale marked with letters
- Replacements
- Rule, alidade, screw, and pin
- Museum Number
- MLA 1914,2-19.1
- Place recorded
- England
- Latitude Plates
- Dover, Oxford, Nottingham, York, Newcastle, Berwick
- Replacement Date
- 1888
Design
- Visible features
- • Trilobal throne at the top of the astrolabe • Star pointers on the rete shaped like animal heads and swords • Replacement rule and alidade stamped with the year 1888 • Latitude plates engraved with English city names including Oxoniensis and Notingham
- Construction and Design
- The astrolabe is constructed of brass and measures 123 mm in diameter. It features a trilobal throne and a mater which is largely empty save for specific construction markings. The rim is soldered directly to the back plate and contains both a 24-hour scale and a 360-degree altitude scale, the former utilizing alphabetical characters for calibration rather than traditional numerals. The rete is characterized by a prominent Y-shape within the ecliptic. It features 23 star pointers, some of which are now illegible. These pointers display diverse, idiosyncratic forms including dragon and dog heads, worms, and bent swords. The ecliptic is divided into zodiacal signs, each subdivided into 30 degrees with 10-degree markings.
- Provenance and Modifications
- The astrolabe is not signed or dated by the original maker. Stylistic analysis of the lettering and the inclusion of specific English towns and saints suggests an origin in the late 14th or early 15th century. It is attributed to an English workshop. The instrument has undergone modifications in the modern era. Specifically, the alidade, rule, screw, and pin were replaced in 1888, with these components marked accordingly. The object was donated to the British Museum in 1914 by Maurice Rosenheim and is documented in several academic catalogues.
- Plates and Calendrical Scales
- The instrument includes three plates providing astronomical data for specific English locations: Dover, Oxford, Nottingham, York, Newcastle, and Berwick. These plates feature markings for the equator, tropics, azimuths, and almucantars, alongside lines for unequal hours. The back of the instrument displays multiple concentric circular scales. These include a 360-degree altitude scale, a zodiacal scale, and a Julian calendar scale. Additionally, three bands contain listings of saints and feast days, including English figures such as Dunstan and Augustin of Canterbury. The lower section of the back plate incorporates a double shadow scale to the base 12.
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: The exact dating remains tentative, indicated as late 14th century with a question mark
- Research required: Star names on the rete are partially illegible due to wear or damage