Astrolabe with Universal Projection, North African, 13th Century?

Object is on display.

Inventory Number:

41122

Object Type:

Object

Place Created:

North Africa Africa

Subject Classification(s):

Astrolabes

Accession Number:

1935-4/part

Brief Description:

This astrolabe was made in Andalusian Spain or North Africa probably in the 1200s CE. Its peculiarity is the presence, on its back, of a universal projection. One of the characteristics of the common astrolabe is that the projection of the celestial sphere varies with the latitude. For this reason, planispheric astrolabes normally contain a number of plates, each engraved for a specific latitude. It is down to the user to change the plate for the correct location. The projection at the back of this astrolabe – based on that developed by Ibn az-Zarqallu in Toledo in the 1000s CE – serves all latitudes and thus obviate the need for the various plates. By further simplifying the projection and by including a selection of fixed stars, this solution also removes the need for a rete.

This astrolabe arrived in the Museum's collection in a the wooden case which contained two letters by William Corner to Mr Baldwin about the former owner of the astrolabe in Northern Iraq, now in the object file.

Provenance:

Bequeathed by T. G. Barnett. Formerly the property of `Ali Hikmet, Qadi of Kirkuk in Northern Iraq (d.1924).

Collection Group:

Barnett Collection

Material(s):

Brass

Dimensions: