astrolabe
- Museum number
- 1961,1201.1
- Description
-
The rim of the MATER of this brass astrolabe bears a 360° altitude scale, numbered four times 0° to 90° starting at the east-west line. The inside of the mater bears markings for a plate for latitude 15° (see below). The rim is soldered to the backplate.
The THRONE looks very similar to those to be found on early Islamic astrolabes: it is triangular consisting of three lobes on each side. The shackle is inset and suspended from two interlocked rings.
The RETE also resembles Islamic astrolabes, the unmarked starpointers are in the shape of flames on quadruple lobes or pointed dagger forms on squares. The ecliptic is marked with the usual Latin names of the zodiac, partially abbreviated. Each sign is divided to 6°. The reverse of the rete shows some construction markings.
The three PLATES and the interior of the mater are marked with the circles for the tropics and the equator, almucantars for every 6° and the curves for the unequal hours, numbered 1 to 12. They are laid out and marked (upside down) for the following latitudes (the seven climates): mater 15° (with east and west marked as 'OCCIDES' and 'ORIENS'), 23°, 30°, 36°, 41°, 45° and 48°.
The BACK has circular scales as follows:
1a and b) the zodiacal signs marked with the usual Latin names, each sign divided to 30°;
2) the months of the Julian calendar, marked with the Latin names as follows 'IANUARI, FEBRUA, MARCIUS, APRILIS, MADIUS, IVNIVS, IVLIVS, AVGVS, SEPTEB, OCTVB, NOVENB, DECENB'. Each month is divided to the corresponding number of days. The equinoxes correspond to March 15 and September 17½.
The lower half of the vacant space inside these circles is taken up by a very badly engraved double SHADOW SQUARE and a superimposed HORARY QUADRANT on the right which appear to be later markings.
The ALIDADE has a drop shaped decoration around the centre hole. The PIN head is flower shaped. The WEDGE is a very stylized horse (perhaps a replacement).
- Production date
- 14thC (?)
- Dimensions
-
Diameter: 114 millimetres
-
Height: 174 millimetres (max, inc. rings)
-
Thickness: 23 millimetres (max)
-
Thickness: 6 millimetres
- Curator's comments
- This unsigned and undated instrument has very similar features to Islamic astrolabes but is engraved with Gothic numerals and letters. This suggests that it would have been made in Spain at a relatively early date, probably in the 14th century.
Since the star pointers are unnamed and the shadow square is a later addition, it may have been left unfinished.
- Location
- Not on display
- Exhibition history
-
Exhibited::
2014 30 Mar-29 Jun, USA, Dallas Museum of Art, Nur: Light in Art and Science from the Islamic World
2013-14 24 Oct - 9 Feb, Seville, Focus-Abengoa Foundation, Nur: Light in Islamic Art and Science
- Condition
- Latest: 2 (Mar 2017)
- Acquisition date
- 1961
- Department
- Britain, Europe and Prehistory
- Registration number
- 1961,1201.1
