A HIGHLY IMPORTANT MEDIEVAL ASTROLABE QUADRANT, PROBABLY SOUTHERN FRANCE, 1291-1310

A HIGHLY IMPORTANT MEDIEVAL ASTROLABE QUADRANT
PROBABLY SOUTHERN FRANCE, 1291-1310
The brass quadrans novus of 4 ¾-inch radius, engraved with red and black wax infill. The front: carrying scales for CORDA RECTA and CORDA V[ER]SA and unlabelled scales for determining sine and cosine to edges; zodiac along perimeter with the name alternating in red and black, inside this a double degree scale; central shadow square and unequal hour lines; folded ecliptic and tropics delineated; eleven named (DABARA, SPATV.GE.SINIST, alabor, mocadani, cor leo, algova, cauda corvi, alaasel, cor scorpi, ahlaca, altair) and nine unnamed stars given. The reverse carries concentric rings for lunar mansions, zodiacal and calendrical scales, a partial index pointer survives. Both sides with (ownership mark?) FTD engraved in a different, contemporary hand. One sight with two viewing holes still attached to top edge. In contemporary moulded cuir-bouilli case, both sides with shield within a circle, surrounded by geometric and foliage decoration. Housed in modern box.
6 x 5 ½in. (15 x 14cm.) in case