Astrolabe Catalogue

 
astrolabe, inventory number 34611 from India (?), ca. 1600
thumbnail for astrolabe (front), inventory number 34611 from India (?), ca. 1600
thumbnail for astrolabe (back), inventory number 34611 from India (?), ca. 1600
thumbnail for astrolabe (rete front), inventory number 34611 from India (?), ca. 1600
Dateca. 1600
PlaceIndia (?)
MaterialBrass
Inventory no.34611
AcquisitionPresented by J. A. Billmeir in 1957

Elaborate foliate retes were typical of the astrolabes made in Muslim India, especially in Lahore. Essentially Persian in form, and always inscribed in Arabic, the simpler Persian foliate retes seem to have responded to the tastes and artistic traditions of northern India by becoming much more densely filled and intricate. One result is that they can indicate a larger number of stars, this example having 35 named stars and quite a few (possible) star pointers without names.

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Throne, Ring and Shackle

The throne is of the indo-persian type made of brass attached with integrated base made of brass and has a simple, round cross-section ring made of brass and omega type shackle made of brass . More information

Mater

The mater and limb are of one-piece construction. Scales on the limb: degree scale. More information

Back

The back contains 8 scales of the following types: Altitude; Declination; Sine/Cosine; Faces; Terms; Triplicities; Shadow square. More information

Rete, Pin & Horse

The rete contains 36 stars. The zodiac on the rete is labelled: الحمل , الثور , الجوزا , السرطان , الاسد , السنبله , الميزان , العقرب , القوس , الجدي , الدلو , الحوت .
The rete is attached using a pin & horse. More information

Plates

There are 6 plates with latitudes ranging from 17°0' to 45°0' . More information

Rules & Alidades

Type Details
AlidadeDouble-ended.
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