E5536-2

Astrolabe: dismounted reverse Long Caption: This carelessly engraved, 'decorative' astrolabe is almost identical to AST0549, although with slightly more decoration. Both are very likely to have come from the same workshop. It bears a date (AH1192 [1778-79 AD]) on its reverse side, but this is likely to be spurious, for this date also appears on an astrolabe by Hajji Ali, from which AST0575 and AST0549 have been unsuccessfully copied. The throne is ornamented with a symmetrical pattern and the mater bears a gazetteer with the coordinates and qibla of 17 standard localities. A portion of the inside of the ecliptic of the rete has been poorly re-engraved after an attempt to repair the rete. There are four, more or less accurate, plates for latitudes between 30°-37°. The back of the instrument features two altitude scales, a sine quadrant and a double shadow square. Next to the cartouche with the date on the back of the instrument, is another cartouche with the inscription 'ya Muhammad' ('Oh Muhammad!'). Credit line: © National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London Object: AST0575 Artist: unknown Date: circa 1800 Medium: brass Size: diameter: 74 mm Click here to buy a bespoke print of this image.