Astrolabe, North African, 14th Century?

Object is on display.

Inventory Number:

53556

Object Type:

Object

Place Created:

North Africa Africa

Subject Classification(s):

Astrolabes

Accession Number:

1924-0/part

Brief Description:

This small astrolabe was made in Andalusian Spain or North Africa probably in the 1300s CE. It features silver studs on the bases of all its star pointers as well as notches around the scales on the rim showing that the maker's concern was to allow easy usage of this astrolabe in poor lighting conditions. The silver would have made the star pointers shine while the notches would have allow the user to feel the correct degrees by hand.

Provenance:

Presented by Lewis Evans. Purchased by him from Harding on 4 November 1894, who bought it at one of H. Weishaupt's sales at Puttick & Simpson's.

Collection Group:

Lewis Evans Collection

Material(s):

Brass

Dimensions: