Humfrey Cole Astrolabe
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1574
This gilt brass astrolabe, measuring 88 mm in diameter, is signed by the maker Humfrey Cole and dated 1574. Constructed in London, the instrument features a rete with flame-shaped star pointers and a circle for the tropic of Capricorn terminating in the head and tail of a dragon.
The mater is engraved with a Quadratum Nauticum and a compass diagram, while the back displays Gemma Frisius' universal projection. It includes four plates, one of which is blank, alongside a unique pincer-like alidade mechanism. The astrolabe incorporates various scales for astronomical calculations, including equal and unequal hour conversion and star positions identified by magnitude.
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
- 1574
- Type
- English astrolabe
- Maker
- Humfrey Cole
- Material
- Gilt brass
- Dimensions
- 88 mm diameter
- Case material
- Green velvet with silver mounts
- Place recorded
- England
- Maker / attribution
- Humfrey Cole
Design
- Visible features
- • Throne features two foliate scrolls with an inset compass under a movable lid • Rete circle for the tropic of Capricorn terminates in a dragon's head and tail • Alidade utilizes a pincer-like mechanism pivoted on the central pin • Fitted carrying case is covered in green velvet with silver metalwork
- Case and Provenance
- The astrolabe is housed in a green velvet-covered case featuring silver hinges and fastenings. The lid is decorated with three silver mounts engraved with Latin phrases and initials. The item was acquired by the British Museum in 1855 from the Bernal Collection. It has been documented in various horological and scientific literature, including the works of R. T. Gunther and F. A. B. Ward.
- Construction and Design
- The astrolabe is crafted from gilt brass with a diameter of 88 mm. The rim of the mater features an equal 24-hour scale on the exterior, while the interior is graduated 0 to 360 degrees anticlockwise. The instrument’s throne is formed by two foliate scrolls and contains an inset compass protected by a movable lid, which is engraved with an armillary sphere. The rete includes flame-shaped star pointers, with the circle for the tropic of Capricorn terminating in the head and tail of a dragon. The instrument includes four plates, one of which is blank, with the others engraved for various latitudes and the Horizontale Catholicum. The back of the instrument contains calendrical scales and a universal projection as described by Gemma Frisius.
- Signatures and Mechanisms
- Humfrey Cole signed the instrument as 'Made by Humfrey Cole' on the right-hand side of the square within the mater. The instrument also bears the date 1574. A secondary inscription referring to Henry, Prince of Wales appears at the bottom in a different hand. The alidade features a unique mechanism designed for removal. It consists of two layers: a solid bar holding the sighting vanes and two pincer-like arms pivoted to the bar. These arms are secured with small studs; raising and turning them allows the alidade to be lifted from the central pin.
Identification
- Reference
- MLA 1855,12-1.223
- Inventory Number
- MLA 1855,12-1.223
- 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: Inscriptions on the case relating to Henry, Prince of Wales are considered likely 19th-century additions
- Research required: The fixing screw on the central pin is identified as a replacement
- Research required: The case itself is considered a likely 19th-century addition