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a clock that is on the side of a white wallan old brass sundial with a ruler on top of itan old gold medal with writing on it on a white backgrounda close up of a clock with arabic writing on ita gold clock with a roman numeral on itframed picture of a gold medal hanging on a blue backgroundan old gold medal hanging in a wooden frame on a blue backgroundan image of a pair of brass plates with screws and screws
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179 - MEDIEVAL PERSIAN PLANISPHERIC ASTROLABE in gilded brass, dat…
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Estimate €45,000 - €50,000
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Description
MEDIEVAL PERSIAN PLANISPHERIC ASTROLABE in gilded brass, dated 744 of the lunar Hijri calendar [= 1343 in the Gregorian calendar]. A historical artefact from a private collection. This astrolabe was first recorded in 1996 by Ms Dominique Brieux, who provided an initial description, published in 2021, in the *Répertoire des facteurs d’astrolabes* compiled by Alain Brieux and Francis Madison. This remarkable instrument stands out in several respects – aesthetically, historically and scientifically – and is described here in detail for the first time. The instrument was made by a renowned maker from the al-Kirmānī family: a family with a reputation for crafting astrolabes spanning four generations, originally from the Kermān region in south-eastern Iran. Six other astrolabes by the same maker, Jaʿfar, son of ʿUmar al-Kirmānī, are currently known: this specimen is the oldest of them. This astrolabe was made in the 14th century following the Mongol invasion of Persia, during the reign of Abu Ishaq Inju, or Abū Esḥāq (1321–1358), the last ruler of the minor Inju dynasty, one of the minor dynasties that ruled Persia intermittently following the collapse of the Ilkhanids. The region of Kermān lay at the heart of the conflict between various regional leaders vying for control of south-eastern Persia. This instrument was no doubt designed with a view to a conquering expedition in this region; indeed, the Inju ruler attempted twice, in 1345, to lead expeditions to Kermān, both of which ended in failure. The instrument, made of finely engraved brass, is cast entirely in one piece, comprising the disc and the base. It features a raised, chiselled throne; it is trilobed in shape, with two lobes forming pierced loops on either side. A central hole is fitted with a double-ring suspension bracket. The design of the throne (Kursi) is characteristic of astrolabes made by the al-Kirmānī family. The astrolabe’s signature in Kufic script, along with its date, indicated in abjad numerals, appears on the back of the instrument, in the upper right-hand quarter of the base: ‘Made by Jaʿfar b. [ibn] ʿUmar ibn Dawlatshāh al-Kirmānī | In the year 744 of the lunar Hijri calendar, 1614 of the Alexandrian era, 715 of the Yazdagird era. ” Its patron is Yūsuf b. [ibn] Muḥammad b. [ibn] 'Alā' ad-dīn al-Miskī. His name is engraved on the reverse of the mother, in the lower central part. No match for this name has yet been identified: Yūsuf, son of Muḥammad, son of 'Alā' ad-dīn [Nobility of the Faith] al-Miskī [‘musk’ in Arabic], probably a conqueror of the Inju dynasty. The throne (Kursi) bears a poetic inscription engraved in Persian naskhī script, which continues along both sides of the throne and reads approximately: کشیدە 티غ عالمگیر روشن رای بخشد ‘The blade / sword drawn by the conqueror of the world strikes with assured judgement’ شعایش عنکبوتی شکل، دورانش سطرلابی ‘Spider-shaped rays, revolving like an astrolabe’ This Naskhī inscription, which differs from the Kufic (kūfī) calligraphic inscriptions found throughout the instrument, is cast in silver and was likely inscribed by a different hand at a later date. This practice, intended to increase the market value of an authentic object, is noted by David A. King (online version, p. 322 ff.). The rim of the disc bears an Arabic inscription: الواثق بالملک الاکبر سلطان اسکندر ‘Al-wāthiq bi-l-malik al-akbar / Sulṭān Iskandar’, which means ‘He who places his trust in the greatest of kings, Sultan Iskandar’. The meaning of this inscription and the person referred to by the term al-wāthiq, as well as the precise identity of the sultan, remain uncertain. It may be a reference to Alexander the Great, known as Iskandar in Persia, a charismatic king and mythical hero, frequently invoked in tales of valour and conquest. On the back of the mother dial is a dial face divided at 90°, as well as a shadow square; in the lower quarters are cotangent scales on the dial face, along with an astrological table. The background of the mother dial features a geographical index inscribed in Kufic script within concentric circles, with, at the centre, an inner circle indicating north and south (repeated twice). The subsequent concentric circles list a number of locations (in Iran and Central Asia, Iraq, Egypt, Syria and India), with the following details for each: longitude, latitude and the inḥirāf (azimuth of the qibla or direction of Mecca). The base of the panel is pierced at the bottom with a mortise (positioned on the central axis, approximately one centimetre from the edge of the panel); this mortise holds a circular tenon, which serves to secure the pierced panels in place. There are five soundboards in total, three of which are entirely engraved in Kufic script without diacritical marks; two of the soundboards are double-layered. The engraved soundboards feature a table of horizons on one side. Two discs bear no inscription; one of them features an old label, pasted onto the surface and written in Persian in black ink, which reads: ‘The astrolabe is in good condition, consisting of three simple discs, made by Al-Kermāni. ’ In the description provided by Ms Dominique Brieux (p. 109 of the Répertoire des astrolabes), the spider is noted as missing and there are four tympanums, including the one bearing the handwritten label. The current spider, of inferior workmanship and of the Safavid type, was added at a later date, as was probably the blank tympanum. The same applies to the pinnule alidade, which bears neither inscription nor scale, as well as the axis and the horse, which were likely added to the original instrument. This astrolabe, the first known example by this maker, is to be regarded as authentic. Dimensions: Diameter: 14.7 mm; Height with suspension ring: 210 mm, without: 175 mm; thickness: 7 mm. Provenance: Private collection, France (Normandy) Bibliographical references: - Alain Brieux, Francis Madison (in collaboration with Youssef Ragheb), *Répertoire des facteurs d’astrolabes et leurs œuvres en Terre d’islam*, edited by Bruno Halff and Muriel Roiland, Turnhout, Brepols, 2021. This specimen is listed under no. 9, Vol. I, p. 109 and Vol. II, figs. 129–130–131. The instrument, described in part by Dominique Brieux, is shown without a spider and with only four discs, one of which bears a handwritten label. - Robert T Gunther, *Astrolabes of the World*, The Holland Press, 1976, pp. 128–129. - David A. King, “Medieval Astronomical Instruments: A Catalogue in Preparation … Parts 1.1–2.3, October 1996 version [online].” English: REMARKABLE PERSIAN BRASS ASTROLABE CONSTRUCTED DURING THE MEDIEVAL PERIOD – 14th Century Signed by Jaʿfar ibn ʿUmar al-Kirmānī in the year 744 (Hijra) [= 1343]." A historical astrolabe from a private collection, crafted by a renowned maker, this astrolabe was first documented by Dominique Brieux in 1996 and featured in the *Répertoire des facteurs d'astrolabes* published in 2021. It is described in detail here for the first time. Entry compiled by Ms Marine FROMANGER, Expert and Member of the CNE – Alain BRIEUX Bookshop
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About the sale BIG SALE ON 14 JULY at 2.00 pm
Auction location
Auction time 07/14/2026 at 2:00 PM
Lot description modified on 07/08/2026 at 12:24 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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