Persian Astrolabe, dated 1831-32
Persian Astrolabe, dated 1831-32
Hammered brass planispheric astrolabe, finely chiselled and engraved, comprising a mother, a spider, four eardrums, a graduated alidade, and a nail (The horse is missing). The inscriptions are in elegant Naskh script.
The mother is surmounted by a poly-lobed throne decorated with a floral composition tapering on each side, with a bird on the front. A belly and a ring are attached to the throne. The limb is divided into 360°, divided in 5° intervals, subdivided by half a degree (½°), with the graduation in abjad. The inside of the mother is engraved with concentric radiating lines containing the names of Iranian cities, with an inscription in the centre giving the date 1247 AH / 1831-32. The reverse side features a diagram of the unequal hours, the square of shadows and the twelve signs of the zodiac engraved in the lower part.
The spider gives the position and names of 28 stars, 11 inside the ecliptic and 17 outside, with the signs of the zodiac inscribed on the line of the ecliptic.
Four eardrums give the following latitudes: 30°, 32°, 33°, 34°, 36° and 42°.
Iran, Qâjâr period, dated 1831-32
Throne height: 23.8 cm; Belly height: 25.5 cm; Diameter: 17.5 cm
The 19th Iranian Kadjar saw the flowering of many decorative astrolabes whose function was more symbolic than functional. This one is an elegant example, with its finely openwork spider and delicately decorated mother. Automatically translated by DeepL. To see the original version, click here.
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Persian Astrolabe, dated 1831-32
Hammered brass planispheric astrolabe, finely chiselled and engraved, comprising a mother, a spider, four eardrums, a graduated alidade, and a nail (The horse is missing). The inscriptions are in elegant Naskh script.
The mother is surmounted by a poly-lobed throne decorated with a floral composition tapering on each side, with a bird on the front. A belly and a ring are attached to the throne. The limb is divided into 360°, divided in 5° intervals, subdivided by half a degree (½°), with the graduation in abjad. The inside of the mother is engraved with concentric radiating lines containing the names of Iranian cities, with an inscription in the centre giving the date 1247 AH / 1831-32. The reverse side features a diagram of the unequal hours, the square of shadows and the twelve signs of the zodiac engraved in the lower part.
The spider gives the position and names of 28 stars, 11 inside the ecliptic and 17 outside, with the signs of the zodiac inscribed on the line of the ecliptic.
Four eardrums give the following latitudes: 30°, 32°, 33°, 34°, 36° and 42°.
Iran, Qâjâr period, dated 1831-32
Throne height: 23.8 cm; Belly height: 25.5 cm; Diameter: 17.5 cm
The 19th Iranian Kadjar saw the flowering of many decorative astrolabes whose function was more symbolic than functional. This one is an elegant example, with its finely openwork spider and delicately decorated mother. Automatically translated by DeepL. To see the original version, click here.
Estimate
Time, Location
Auction House
