Special Exhibition Label: 'Al-Mizan: Sciences and Arts in the Islamic World' (26/10/2010 - 20/03/2011)
Craft Manufacture
Mosul for Metalworking
This brass celestial globe includes inlaid silver dots to mark the positions of the stars. It is signed by 'Abd al-Rahman ibn Burhan al-Mawsili and dated 1318/19. The last part of his name indicates that he came from the city of Mosul, which was famed as a centre of high quality metalworking. It was presumably there that the maker learnt his trade.
MHS inv. 54471 (left)