.jpg?w=1)
.jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
The three plates are engraved with astrolabic markings for latitudes circa 22°, 29°, 30°, 32°, 34°, 38°. In this case 22° would serve Mecca, 30° would be for Cairo, 32° would be for Marrakesh, and 38° for Fez and Meknes. The rete though probably associated has been paired with this astrolabe for a considerable amount of time. This is confirmed by the fact that one of the plates retains a shadow from a broken point of a star pointer.
The throne of this astrolabe as well as the double-ended alidade relate closely to an astrolabe signed by ‘Abdullah ibn Sasi which is dated AH 1099/1687-88 AD now in the Museum of the History of Science in Oxford, (inv.45220; https://www.mhs.ox.ac.uk/collections/search/displayrecord/?invnumber=45220). It is also interesting to note that, like ours, the rete of the Oxford astrolabe is of a different metal alloy colour and is engraved with calligraphy which differs in style from the rest of the astrolabe. It is therefore likely that the rete of our astrolabe, also different in colour, may be original. A similar maghrebi astrolabe recently sold in Paris, Tessier & Sarrou, 29 June 2015, lot 155.
The throne of this astrolabe as well as the double-ended alidade relate closely to an astrolabe signed by ‘Abdullah ibn Sasi which is dated AH 1099/1687-88 AD now in the Museum of the History of Science in Oxford, (inv.45220; https://www.mhs.ox.ac.uk/collections/search/displayrecord/?invnumber=45220). It is also interesting to note that, like ours, the rete of the Oxford astrolabe is of a different metal alloy colour and is engraved with calligraphy which differs in style from the rest of the astrolabe. It is therefore likely that the rete of our astrolabe, also different in colour, may be original. A similar maghrebi astrolabe recently sold in Paris, Tessier & Sarrou, 29 June 2015, lot 155.