Johann Wagner Astrolabe
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1538
This brass astrolabe (inventory number 40443) was made in Nuremberg in 1538 by Johann Wagner. The construction features a three-lobed throne attached to the mater by a soldered base, with each lobe decorated with a five-petalled flower.
The mater and limb are of two-piece, soldered construction. The instrument includes two plates with latitudes ranging from 45° to 51°. The back of the instrument features an unequal-hour diagram and a central coat of arms flanked by the letters 'R' and 'R'. It includes six primary scales: degree, zodiacal signs, calendar, shadow square, and unequal hours. The double-ended, counter-changed alidade is original to the piece and inscribed with the Latin text 'ALHIDADA ID LINEA FIDVCIEI'.
The astrolabe was presented to the History of Science Museum by Lewis Evans in 1924, having been acquired by Evans from the Parisian collector R. Heilbronner in 1910.
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
- 1538
- Type
- Latin-inscribed astrolabe
- Maker
- Johann Wagner
- Material
- Brass
- Acquisition
- Presented by Lewis Evans in 1924
- Place recorded
- Nuremberg
- Alidade Inscription
- ALHIDADA ID LINEA FIDVCIEI
- Maker / attribution
- Johann Wagner
- Place of Manufacture
- Nuremberg
Design
- Visible features
- • Three-lobed throne decoration featuring five-petalled flowers • Double-ended, counter-changed alidade • Central coat of arms on back flanked by 'R' initials
- Provenance and Marks
- The instrument is marked with the maker's name and the date 1538. On the reverse, the central unequal-hour diagram features a large coat of arms, situated between two uppercase letters 'R'. The provenance of this object traces back to 1910, when it was acquired by the collector Lewis Evans from R. Heilbronner in Paris. It was later donated to the History of Science Museum in 1924, where it is held under the accession number 1924-0/2025.
- Construction and Design
- The astrolabe is constructed of brass and follows a traditional design for the period. Its throne is of a distinct three-lobed form, each lobe adorned with a five-petalled flower, and is securely attached to the mater via a soldered base. The main body, including the mater and the limb, is made of two separate pieces joined by solder. The limb is calibrated for equal hours, with clear labels inscribed in Latin, such as 'HORE EQUALES' and cardinal directions including 'OCCIDENS' and 'MERIDIES'. Internally, the womb displays a table of horizons, with scales calibrated from 10 to 90 degrees, alongside plain line designations for the Equator and the Tropics, labeled in Roman Capital script.
- Scales and Instrumentation
- The rear of the instrument is equipped with six distinct scales to facilitate astronomical calculations. These include concentric degree and zodiacal scales, a calendar for tracking days of the year, and a shadow square for geometric measurements. The upper two quadrants contain a scale for unequal hours. A double-ended, counter-changed alidade remains with the instrument, which is identified as original. This component features simple Gothic styling and is inscribed with its functional description, specifically denoting it as the fiducial line, or 'ALHIDADA ID LINEA FIDVCIEI'.
Identification
- Inventory Number
- 40443
- 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: Specific original owner associated with 'R R' initials unverified
- Research required: Attribution of coat of arms provenance relies on museum research