Safavid brass and silver astrolabe
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1712
This large astrolabe from the Safavid dynasty is held in the British Museum collection. The source records that it was made of engraved copper alloy inlaid with silver by 'Abd 'Ali ibn Muhammad Rafi' al-Juzi and decorated by Muhammad Baqir in 1712 (Sha'ban 1124).
The instrument incorporates a prominent triangular throne, seven latitude plates, and a mater inscribed with a gazetteer of 103 cities across the Islamic world, including Jerusalem, Damascus, Baghdad, Kabul, and Delhi. The openwork rete is fitted with pointers to sixty-three significant stars, secured at the center with a pin and wedge beneath a suspension shackle.
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
- Astrolabe
- Maker
- 'Abd 'Ali ibn Muhammad Rafi' al-Juzi
- Height
- 58.20 centimetres
- Decorator
- Muhammad Baqir
- Materials
- copper alloy, silver
- Museum number
- OA+.369
- Place recorded
- Iran
- Production date
- 1712 (Sha'ban 1124 (Sep-Oct 1712))
- Production place
- Iran
- Maker / attribution
- 'Abd 'Ali ibn Muhammad Rafi' al-Juzi and Muhammad Baqir
Design
- Visible features
- • High triangular throne intricately engraved with multi-line Arabic script and fitted with a dark suspension shackle and ring. • Openwork rete formed of interlacing scrolling tendrils functioning as star pointers above an engraved latitude plate. • Central axis secured by a pin and wedge mechanism. • Graduated circular limb surrounded by an engraved outer border.
- Construction and Materials
- This Safavid-period instrument is composed of a copper alloy and silver, featuring engraving and inlay techniques. It includes seven latitude plates. The astrolabe features a triangular throne engraved with script and a suspension shackle. The central axis is held by a pin and wedge mechanism.
- Dial and Technical Features
- The openwork rete features pointers for sixty-three stars. The mater contains an engraved gazetteer listing 103 cities, including Jerusalem, Damascus, Baghdad, Kabul, and Delhi. The circular limb is graduated and has an engraved border. The curator's comments note that the scale and weight suggest the instrument was created for display purposes.
- Production and Documentation
- The instrument was made by 'Abd 'Ali ibn Muhammad Rafi' al-Juzi and decorated by Muhammad Baqir in Iran, dated to 1712 (Sha'ban 1124). Source dimensions are 58.20 cm in height, 14 cm in width, and 3.40 cm in depth. The alidade, reverse, and internal plates are not visible in the current documentation.
Identification
- Reference
- OA+.369
- 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 reverse side, alidade, and interior plates are not visible in the provided photograph.
- Research required: Source notes dimensions of 58.20 cm height and 14 cm width, which appears anomalous for a circular instrument of this proportion, but is reported directly from the record.