Paper Astrolabe, by Philippe Danfrie, Paris, 1584 (Inv. 34268)
A rare paper astrolabe from the sixteenth century
Except when they were included in books, paper instruments are now very rare, but they were much more common in the sixteenth century than it might appear from surviving examples. The Parisian maker Philippe Danfrie took a special interest in these inexpensive alternatives to brass instruments.