Astrolabe Catalogue

 
astrolabe, inventory number 30402 from India, late 18th or early 19th
          century
thumbnail for astrolabe (front), inventory number 30402 from India, late 18th or early 19th
          century
thumbnail for astrolabe (back), inventory number 30402 from India, late 18th or early 19th
          century
thumbnail for astrolabe (rete front), inventory number 30402 from India, late 18th or early 19th
          century
Datelate 18th or early 19th century
PlaceIndia
MaterialBrass
Inventory no.30402
AcquisitionPurchased at Christie's, London, in 1988

This astrolabe was probably made in Jaipur, in Northern India. Like many of the astrolabes produced there, this one is quite large — indeed, it is the largest in the collection — and has a single plate engraved for 27°, the latitude of Jaipur. Another common feature is the sighting tube on the back of the instrument.

One unusual and interesting feature of this instrument is the inscription across the throne, श्रीयंत्रराज ('The glorious astrolabe'). It suggests the prestige accorded to the astrolabe in Jaipur, which had become the centre for the manufacture of astrolabes in the eighteenth century as a result of the observatory founded there by the maharajah Jai Singh II (1688-1743).

Special thanks to Professors S.R. Sarma and Chris Minkowski for their help in transcribing and translating the Sanskrit on this instrument.

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View detailed provenance for this astrolabe

Throne, Ring and Shackle

The throne is of the simple, engraved type made of brass attached with integrated base made of brass and has a other ring made of brass and omega type shackle made of brass . More information

Mater

The mater and limb are of one-piece construction. The limb on this mater consists of simply that portion of the mater that extends beyond the rete. Scales on the limb: degree scale. More information

Back

The back contains 7 scales of the following types: Altitude; Degree; Sine/Cosine; Shadow square. More information

Rete, Pin & Wedge

The rete contains 38 stars. The zodiac on the rete is labelled: मेष , वृष , मिथुन , कर्क , सिंह , कन्या , तुल , वृश्चिक , धन , मकर , कुंभ , मीन .
The rete is attached using a pin & wedge. More information

Rules & Alidades

Type Details
AlidadeDouble-ended. In addition to the pin-hole sights, the alidade has a sighting tube characteristic of Indian instruments.
More information

 

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