Astrolabe thumbnail 1
Not on display

Astrolabe

1700-1800 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Middle East, Metalwork. Astrolabe, engraved brass, openwork rete with a woman's head and birds representing principal stars, seated dervishes depicted on the handle, Iran, 1700-1800

Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Brief description
Middle East, Metalwork. Astrolabe, engraved brass, openwork rete with a woman's head and birds representing principal stars, seated dervishes depicted on the handle, Iran, 1700-1800
Dimensions
  • Height: 155mm
  • Width: 133mm
  • Depth: 40mm
Gallery label
(2016-2018)
2016-2018 Display: Amulets, Talismans and Fortune Telling in the Middle East

Divination and Magic:
Seeking knowledge of the future through astrology or divination was a popular practice in the Islamic world. This was the work of astrologers, who used complex instruments such as celestial globes and astrolabes to predict fortune. This information was translated into tables which provided information on when to take certain actions - for example, when to buy a house or set out on a journey.

21. Astrolabe
Iran
1650-1800
Brass, cast and sheet, pierced and engraved
Museum no. 26-1889
Object history
Purchased for £12.10
Collection
Accession number
26-1889

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
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