A BRASS ASTROLABE
Qajar Iran, late 19th century

Of typical circular shape, comprising four plates and an openwork rete with an ecliptic ring at the top and star pointers, the alidade in the back with the typical two little vanes with pin-holes at each end used as sights, the mater densely engraved with eight decreasing concentric bands of Arabic inscriptions to the interior and the Twelve Zodiac signs to the exterior, the centre of the womb marked with the date '1128' (1715 - 1716 AD) added at a later stage, the cusp densely engraved with a Quranic inscription (Sura an-Nahl 16, v. 12) in thuluth script on the front and a stylised lotus bud surrounded by thick foliage and vegetal sprays on the back, 15cm diam. and 19.5cm long.