Inventory no. 52528 - Former Display Label
21
ASTROLABE of unknown origin
?Early 16th century
Unsigned and undated. Brass.
Rete for thirteen stars. The design of the rete includes a trefoil pattern within the ecliptic circle; the star-pointers are of the 'wavy flame' type. Three plates, for latitudes 37°, 40°; 43°, 46°; 49° and 52°. The pin is held in place by a wing-nut instead of the more usual 'horse'. Although this astrolabe has several features in common with medieval instruments, it is engraved throughout in Italic lettering.
On the back are a zodiac/calendar scale (0° Aries = 101/2 March; concentric type), the usual scales of degrees, with an unusual scale of sines engraved vertically on the right-hand side of the upper left quadrant, a graph of unequal hours, and a shadow-square. Although this astrolabe has several features in common with medieval instruments, it is engraved throughout in Italic lettering.
Exhibited at the Exposition Internationale de la Technique de l'Eau, Liége, 1939, no. 312.
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Billmeir Collection