- Brief Description
- This astrolabe belongs to the production of the famous Lahore workshop of which we know only through the signatures on a group of objects, of which this belongs. The workshop was established by Allahdad in the mid-1500s CE, and who signs a couple of astrolabes (47376). This astrolabe is signed by one of his grandsons. He gives his name on this astrolabe as "Muhammad Muqim ibn Isa ibn Allahdad Humayun's astrolabist of Lahore" with some very slight variations from the other signatures of the same maker (37530). Like his brother Qa'im Muhammad, Muhammad Muqim used the phrase "Asturlabi Humayuni Lahuri" to describe his grandfather. The phrase might mean no more than that Allahdad worked in the time of the emperor Humayun, but the family may have intended and would certainly have preferred the more prestigious interpretation that Allahdad was the emperor's own astrolabist. Humayun was certainly reported to have "an extraordinary interest and proficiency in the astrolabe". A peculiarity of this astrolabe is the presence of multiple dates, likely added by successive owners.
- Subject
- Astrolabes
- Item type
- Object
- Makers
- Muhammad Muqim
- Provenance
- Presented by Lewis Evans. It was purchased by Evans at a sale at Carpenden Park, Bushey, Watford, July 1909.
- Primary inscriptions
- صنعت أضعف العباد محمد مقيم ابن عيسى ابن الهداد اسطرلابي همايوني لاهوري "Work of the least of servants, Muhammad Muqim ibn `Isa ibn Allah-dad Humayun's astrolabist of Lahore". Engraved on the back, in the lower right-hand quadrant, along right edge of shadow square. فى سنه ١٢٢١ "In the year 1221". Engraved on the back, in the lower right-hand quadrant, outside the shadow square. فى سنه سكندرى ١٩٥٥ غظنه "In the year of Alexander 1955 1955". Engraved on the left-hand quadrant, outside the shadow square. The year is written twice, once in modern Arabic numerals and once in abdjad numbers فى سنه هجرى ١٠٥٣ غنج "In the Hijri year 1053 1053". Engraved on the back, in the lower right-hand quadrant, outside the shadow square. The year is written twice, once in modern Arabic numerals and once in abdjad numbers
- Physical material
- Brass
- Object type
- Astrolabe
- Dimensions
- Height: 273mm Width: 170mm Depth: 44mm Weight: 1.65kg
- Inventory No
- 43704
- Accession Number
- 1924-0/part
Description
This astrolabe represents the peak of the Lahore workshop production, characterized by a high number of star pointer and a tightly packed graphs on the back.
Parts
It comprises: a mater, a rete, 5 plates, an alidade, a horse a pin.
Throne
The throne is of the indo-persian, pierced type . The throne is attached with a integrated base. The throne culminates in a trefoil to which the shackle attaches..
Ring
The ring is of the simple, round cross-section type (i.e. simple plain ring made from a round rod or piece of metal).
Shackle
Shackle of the omega type (i.e. Ω-shaped shackle). This shackle is decorated with engraved bands and attaches to throne by means of decorated tabs.
Mater
The mater and limb are of one-piece construction. The tab to hold the tympans in place is loacted at the bottom of the instrument, 180° from the throne. The rim is marked with a degree scale 0-360° divided every 5 degrees, subdivided every degree, and labelled in Abjad numerals every 5 degrees.
Womb
The womb is engraved with a gazeteer, showing only the longitude and latitude of each city and arraged according to climate.
Back
On the back are a sine/cosine quadrant; the arcs of the signs of the zodiac, with graphs of the sun's meridian altitude throughout the year for latitudes 27° and 32°; a shadow-square (within which are astrological tables of the 28 lunar mansions and the limits and faces of the planets, and of triplicities); cotangent scales; and the usual scales of degrees.
Rete
The rete is of the foliate type with an almost symmetrical pattern. There is one knob for rotation, possibly added at a later stage. It features about 41 stars.
Zodiac label
The zodiac on the rete is labelled: الحمل , الثور , الجوزا , السرطان , الاسد , السنبله , الميزان , العقرب , القوس , الجدي , الدلو , الحوت.
Pin and horse
The rete is attached using a pin and horse. The horse is not original.
Alidade
The alidade is pierced with two holes on both sighting-vanes. Not original.
Plates
There are 5 plates: a) latitudes 22° and 25°; b) latitude 23°, and a composite tablet for latitudes 0°, 72° and 90°; c) latitudes 27° and 32°; d) latitudes 36° and 40°; e) tablet of horizons of eastern type and tablet of ecliptical co-ordinates (i.e. for latitude 66°30'). On most of the tablets, azimuths are drawn above and below the horizon line, and there are lines representing Babylonian hours, in addition to the usual unequal-hour lines. In the mater are engraved the latitudes and longitudes of 120 places arranged according to 'climate'.
