Special Exhibition Label: 'Al-Mizan: Sciences and Arts in the Islamic World' (26/10/2010 - 20/03/2011)
Craft Manufacture
Family Portrait
The instruments on this shelf represent four generations of an astrolabe-making family from 16th- and 17th-century Lahore. From left to right the makers are Allah-dad, the founder of the workshop, c. 1570; Diya' al-Din Muhammad, his great-grandson, 1658/9; Muhammad Muqim, a grandson, 1641/2; Qa'im Muhammad, another grandson, 1634/5.
The strength of family traditions in metalworking was remarked on at other times and places. A medieval Italian pilgrim marvelled at what he saw in 14th-century Damascus: 'The order they have among them is a beautiful and noble thing, for if the father is a goldsmith, the sons cannot ever have a trade other than this, and so they go from generation to generation so that of necessity they must be perfect masters of their arts.'
MHS inv. 47376; MHS inv. 53637; MHS inv. 46935; MHS inv. 42730 (left to right)
Other narratives:
Related Objects:
- Inventory No. 53637, "Astrolabe, by Diya al-Din Muhammad, Lahore, 1658/9" [1924-0/part], Diya ad-din Muhammad
- Inventory No. 46935, "Astrolabe, by Muhammad Muqim, Lahore, 1641/2" [1957-84/160], Muqim, Muhammad
- Inventory No. 47376, "Astrolabe, by Allah-dad, Lahore, c. 1570" [1957-84/159], Allah-dad
- Inventory No. 42730, "Astrolabe, by Qa'im Muhammad, Lahore, 1634/5" [1924-0/part], Muqim, Muhammad