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PROVENANCE - Sothebys Auction, LONDON - ARTS OF THE ISLAMIC WORLD, INCLUDING FINE CARPETS AND TEXTILES 24 OCTOBER 2007 - Lot#189

Whilst this little astrolabe is unsigned, the quality and style of its execution and engraving suggest that it was made by 'Abd al-A'imma, the most prolific of the instrument makers of Isfahan in the late 17th century. He is known by some three dozen astrolabes.

The elegant throne and the rete with its floral design are typical of the master's works. There are 27 labelled star-pointers. On the mater there is a gazetteer with 34 localities together with their longitudes, latitudes and qiblas. There are four plates with altitude circles for each 6° and azimuth circles for each 10°. They serve latitudes 27°, 29°, 30°, 32°, 34°, 36° and 38°, together with a set of horizons for each 3° of latitude from 15° to 66°. The upper back bears a sexagesimal grid for trigonometric calculations, a solar quadrant showing the altitude of the sun in the azimuth of the qibla for Shiraz, Baghdad, Isfahan and Tus. The lower back bears two sets of scales for determining shadows to base 7 (aqdâm, feet) on the left and base 12 (asâbi', digits). The cartouche on the front of the throne has been left empty. The alidade is original.

Bibliography: Mayer, Islamic Astrolabists, s. v .