Lot 87
An Indian astrolabe inscribed in Persian
19TH CENTURY
Closed8 April 2009
Price Realised
GBP 5,000
More Information
An Indian astrolabe inscribed in Persian
19th Century
unsigned and undated, the throne decorated in relief with the reverse blank, the degree scale around the limb 0°-360° divided by 1° marked twice, once in numerals by 10° and once in abjad, no plates present, the inside of the mater engraved with projection for an aproximate latitude of the Tropic of Cancer; the reverse with shadow square to lower quadranrs, a sexagesimal trigonometric grid with non-horizontal dividing lines to the upper left quadrant, arc of signs equally spaced to upper right quadrant; the rete for 26 stars, not all named, crude alidade with sight vanes and curved cross-bar, horse missing, small pin present.
7½in. (19cm.) radius
The similarity to No.136 in the Khalili collection suggests this was cast from the same workshop.
19th Century
unsigned and undated, the throne decorated in relief with the reverse blank, the degree scale around the limb 0°-360° divided by 1° marked twice, once in numerals by 10° and once in abjad, no plates present, the inside of the mater engraved with projection for an aproximate latitude of the Tropic of Cancer; the reverse with shadow square to lower quadranrs, a sexagesimal trigonometric grid with non-horizontal dividing lines to the upper left quadrant, arc of signs equally spaced to upper right quadrant; the rete for 26 stars, not all named, crude alidade with sight vanes and curved cross-bar, horse missing, small pin present.
7½in. (19cm.) radius
The similarity to No.136 in the Khalili collection suggests this was cast from the same workshop.
An Indian astrolabe inscribed in Persian
19th Century
unsigned and undated, the throne decorated in relief with the reverse blank, the degree scale around the limb 0°-360° divided by 1° marked twice, once in numerals by 10° and once in abjad, no plates present, the inside of the mater engraved with projection for an aproximate latitude of the Tropic of Cancer; the reverse with shadow square to lower quadranrs, a sexagesimal trigonometric grid with non-horizontal dividing lines to the upper left quadrant, arc of signs equally spaced to upper right quadrant; the rete for 26 stars, not all named, crude alidade with sight vanes and curved cross-bar, horse missing, small pin present.
7½in. (19cm.) radius
The similarity to No.136 in the Khalili collection suggests this was cast from the same workshop.
19th Century
unsigned and undated, the throne decorated in relief with the reverse blank, the degree scale around the limb 0°-360° divided by 1° marked twice, once in numerals by 10° and once in abjad, no plates present, the inside of the mater engraved with projection for an aproximate latitude of the Tropic of Cancer; the reverse with shadow square to lower quadranrs, a sexagesimal trigonometric grid with non-horizontal dividing lines to the upper left quadrant, arc of signs equally spaced to upper right quadrant; the rete for 26 stars, not all named, crude alidade with sight vanes and curved cross-bar, horse missing, small pin present.
7½in. (19cm.) radius
The similarity to No.136 in the Khalili collection suggests this was cast from the same workshop.
Maddison, F. & Savage-Smith, E. Science, Tools & Magic Part One. Body and Spirit, Mapping the Universe The Nasser D. Khalili Collection of Islamic Art Vol.12. (Oxford: 1997), pp.237-8.
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