Geographic astrolabe, inventory 53211
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1560
This brass geographic astrolabe, made by Gillis Coignet in 1560, differs from traditional astrolabes by featuring a single plate with an ornate terrestrial projection rather than the heavens.
The projection maps the earth from the North Pole to the Tropic of Capricorn, detailing Europe, North Africa, the Near East, and the Americas. The instrument includes a rete marked with eight stars and flamant-style pointers, a mater with an extremely broad limb featuring calendar, zodiacal, and equal hours scales, and a back containing a 'trigonus' sundial and a de Rojas universal projection. The instrument was presented to the museum by Lewis Evans in 1924, having been acquired by him from a dealer in Florence in 1905.
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
- 1560
- Type
- Geographic astrolabe
- Maker
- Gillis Coignet
- Material
- Brass
- Signature
- Ægidius cuiniet antuerpianus facieb. A.° 1560
- Place recorded
- Antwerp
- Maker / attribution
- Gillis Coignet
Design
- Visible features
- • The terrestrial plate features labeled regions including 'AMERICA', 'Brazil', and 'Peru'. • The rete contains eight named stars with flamant-style pointers. • The back features a 'trigonus' sundial and a rotatable plate with a de Rojas projection. • The rule bears an engraved signature: 'Ægidius cuiniet antuerpianus facieb. A.° 1560'.
- Signatures and Provenance
- The astrolabe is signed by the maker on the rule, reading 'Ægidius cuiniet antuerpianus facieb. A.° 1560', which translates to 'Aegidius Coignet made this at Antwerp, in the year 1560'. While the single-ended rule bears this signature, it is reported to be a replacement for the original and is fixed in an immovable position, intended for use with the sundial located on the back of the instrument. The provenance records indicate that the astrolabe was presented to the History of Science Museum in Oxford by Lewis Evans in 1924. Evans had previously purchased the instrument from a Florence-based dealer named Pallotti in 1905.
- Rete, Throne, and Back Plate
- The zodiacal signs are engraved around the perimeter of the rete. The rete is secured to the center of the astrolabe using a nut and bolt assembly. The instrument is suspended by a simple round-section ring connected via an eye-bolt shackle to a simple-type brass throne, which is secured to the main body with a riveted base. The back of the astrolabe is highly complex, featuring a 'trigonus' sundial as described by Gemma Frisius, alongside a rotating plate integrated with a de Rojas universal projection. This back portion also features a degree scale ranging from 0 to 90 degrees.
- Construction and Geographic Plate
- The astrolabe is constructed of brass and features a three-piece mater and limb assembly. The limb is noted for being extremely broad, supporting three distinct circular, concentric scales: a calendar scale, a zodiacal signs scale, and an equal hours scale. The womb area of the instrument is blank. This projection encompasses the globe from the North Pole down to the Tropic of Capricorn. It depicts recognizable continental masses, including Europe, the Near East, and portions of the New World, specifically noting Mexico, Brazil, and Peru, which aligns with Antwerp's economic interests at the time.
Identification
- Reference
- 53211
- Inventory number
- 53211
- 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 rule is identified as a replacement and not the original component.
- Research required: The attribution to Gillis Coignet is based on the maker's engraved signature on the instrument.