E5572-1

Caird Astrolabe: mounted obverse Long Caption: This elegant astrolabe relates to a group of six Western Islamic astrolabes made in Toledo around 1060. It is most similar to an astrolabe dated 1068 by Ibrahim ibn Sa'id al-Sahli in the Museum of the History of Science, Oxford (inventory no. 55.331) and may even have been based on this instrument. Its origin is puzzling: two plates have engraved names of French cities which imply that it might have been made in France, but the design of the throne suggests that it may have come from 11th-13th century Islamic Spain. This instrument, given like so many others by Sir James Caird, the Museum's single greatest benefactor, was christened 'The Caird Astrolabe' by a unanimous vote of the Trustees on 4 July 1938. Credit line: © National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, Nicolas Landau Collection Object: AST0570 Artist: unknown Date: circa 1230 Medium: brass Size: diameter: 155 mm Click here to buy a bespoke print of this image.