E5550-7

Astrolabe: obverse of plates Long Caption: This astrolabe was in the collection of the King of Oude at the Palace of Lucknow. According to correspondence accompanying the instrument, it was 'picked up' by a British soldier in the 90th regiment during the Indian Mutiny in 1857 when the Palace was captured by Sir Colin Campbell. It was made by one of the leading astrolabe-makers in 17th century Isfahan and is distinguished by a rete of European influence: the 'tulip' design and the bird inside the ecliptic are characteristic of the Louvain school in the middle of the 16th century. Also, the magnetic compass fitted in the throne at the front is of European inspiration. It might be that a European traveller had brought a Flemish astrolabe to Isfahan which subsequently inspired Muqim. Credit line: © National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London Object: AST0566 Artist: Muhammad Muqim al-Yazdi; Muhammad Mahdi al-Yazdi Date: circa 1645 Medium: brass Size: diameter: 189 mm Click here to buy a bespoke print of this image.