Epact Scientific Instruments of Medieval and Renaissance Europe

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Astrolabe
Unsigned
Dated 1326; English
Brass; 132 mm in diameter

It is very likely that this astrolabe, the earliest dated European example, is of English origin: three of the saints mentioned in the list on the back are of particular English significance, the rete has the typical Y-shape and zoomorphic star pointers as described by Chaucer and one of the plates is marked for Oxford.

The plates have the very unusual marking for the prime vertical, but are not laid out for the astrological houses.

British Museum, London
Registration no. MLA 1909,6-17.1

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