The Painswick Astrolabe
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
ca. 1370
This brass astrolabe, identified as inventory number 47869 and historically known as the 'Painswick Astrolabe', dates to approximately 1370. The instrument features a Y-shaped rete with zoomorphic elements where the Tropic of Capricorn terminates in the head and tail of a dragon, with the head pointing at the star Antares and the tail at Deneb Algiedi.
The rete displays 21 star positions indicated by flamant pointers and a labelled zodiac circle. The mater and limb consist of a one-piece construction, while the throne is of a simple, unusual pierced type with an integrated base. The back incorporates scales for degrees, zodiacal signs, a calendar, Saints' Days, and a shadow square. This instrument was presented to the History of Science Museum, University of Oxford, in 1955 by the Misses M.
E. and L. C. Hyett and The Friends of the Old Ashmolean.
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
- ca. 1370
- Type
- Astrolabe
- Material
- Brass
- Rete type
- Y-shaped (low)
- Star count
- 21
- Place recorded
- England (?)
- Place of origin
- England (?)
- Acquisition date
- 1955
Design
- Visible features
- • Rete includes dragon-head zoomorphic terminal • Three plates included with latitudes from 40° to 59° • Shadow square located in lower two back quadrants • Shackle design resembles a comet with a fiery tail
- Provenance and History
- The astrolabe, documented as the 'Painswick Astrolabe', was acquired by the History of Science Museum in Oxford in 1955. It was previously part of the collection of Sir Francis A. Hyett of Painswick House, Gloucestershire. The acquisition was made possible through a donation from the Misses M. E. and L. C. Hyett and the Museum's Friends organisation. The item is associated with a related group of 14th-century English astrolabes, including the instrument catalogued under inventory number 49359. The documentation notes the inclusion of zoomorphic dragon features as a characteristic shared across this group of instruments.
- Scales and Back Markings
- The back of the astrolabe is engraved with five circular, concentric scales providing various astronomical and calendrical data. These include a degree scale ranging from 0 to 90 degrees, zodiacal signs, a calendar of the year, a scale for Saints' Days, and a shadow square located in the lower two quadrants. The limb of the instrument also contains scales, specifically for equal hours marked with letters instead of numbers, and a 360-degree scale. The instrument is accompanied by three plates covering a range of latitudes from 40 degrees to 59 degrees, supporting its functionality across various locations.
- Structural Design and Components
- The instrument features a one-piece mater and limb construction. The throne is of a simple, pierced type attached to an integrated base, a feature described as unusual for European astrolabes. The ring is a simple round cross-section rod, and the shackle is uniquely fashioned to resemble a comet with a fiery tail. The rete is Y-shaped and carries 21 stars indicated by flamant pointers. A primary decorative feature is the zoomorphic treatment of the Tropic of Capricorn, which ends in the head and tail of a dragon or serpent.
Identification
- Inventory number
- 47869
- 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 place of manufacture is uncertain and noted as England (?)
- Research required: The attribution of the astrolabe to the 14th century is approximate as 'ca. 1370'