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Astrolabe
Unsigned
16th century; German
Copper; 385 mm in diameter

The astrolabe has not a mater as such, only a plate to which are fixed the very simple rete, the rule and the alidade. The rim of the plate is inscribed with the names of the main 12 winds in Latin, with north on the bottom of the plate. Further to the centre is a scale of hours numbered from 1 to 12 twice. The hours are engraved around a scale of degrees divided to 5 and to 1 degree by alternate shading, numbered from 10 to 360 by 5 starting from east. The central part of the plate is inscribed as an astrolabe plate, with almucantars every degree, numbered from 5 to 80 by 5, azimuth lines every 5 degrees, numbered from 5 to 90 by 5, unequal hour lines numbered from 1 to 12, and astrological houses numbered from 1 to 12.

The rete is constituted only by the ecliptic circle and the lower part of the Capricorn band. There are 28 star pointers in a simple point shape and the stars are all named in Latin. The Capricorn band ends in the shape of the head and tail of a Dragon. The ecliptic circle is engraved with a scale of degrees divided to 5 and to 1 degree, numbered from 5 to 30 by 5. The names of the zodiacal signs are engraved in Latin.

The radial rule is plain.

The back of the plate is engraved with a scale of degrees on the rim, divided to the degree by alternate shading, numbered from 5 to 360 by 5 from west. The same scale is also shared by a zodiacal scale numbered from 5 to 30 by 5, with the names of the zodiacal signs engraved in Latin. Further to the centre is a calendar scale, divided to the day, numbered from 5 to the last day of the month as appropriate, by 5. The first point of Aries is on 10 April. The central part of the plate is engraved with a double shadow scale on the bottom half, divided to 1 by alternate shading and numbered by 3. The top right half of the plate is engraved with a zodiac scale with the symbols of the zodiac signs, unequal hour lines numbered from 1 to 12 and equal hour lines numbered from 1 to 12.

The alidade is plain and has two double sights.

The suspension apparatus is missing.

Ilaria Meliconi

Istituto e Museo di Storia della Scienza, Firenze
Inventory no. 1282

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