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CHAYETTE et CHEVAL
44
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Maghrebian ASTROLABE, unsigned, late 12th century H (18th ce…
See original version (French)
44
-
Maghrebian ASTROLABE, unsigned, late 12th century H (18th ce…
See original version (French)
Estimate €18,000 - €20,000
Voluntary lot
Description
Maghrebian ASTROLABE, unsigned, late 12th century H (18th century CE).
Brass.
An elegant spider-shaped instrument, the bases of which, for the twenty-six stars, are two- or three-lobed and feature a stylised floral decoration.
These bases are arranged as symmetrically as possible. Each of the two pointed bars connecting the ecliptic and the circle of Capricorn is called
qābiḍ – ‘the one who holds’. The east–west bar is crossed four times; there are six mudīr, and a square Capricorn indicator (al-murī). Two star markers are missing (‘abūr and dabarān) and several breaks have been clumsily repaired with visible welds on the spider’s back.
The twenty-six stars are:
η Ceti dhanab qayṭūs ذنب قيطوس
β Persei ghūl غول
α Tauri dabarān دبران
β Orionis qadam قدم
α Aurigae ʿayyūq عيوق
α Orionis mankib jaw[zā] منكب الجو[زا]
α Canis Maioris ʿabūr عبور
β Canis Minoris ghumayṣā غميصا
α Hydrae shujāʿ شجاع
α Cancri zubānā زبانا
ι Ursae Maioris yad dubb يد دبّ
μ Ursae Maioris rijl dubb رجل دبّ
? Crateris fam kaʾs فم كأس
α Virginis aʿzal اعزل
α Bootis rāmiḥ رامح
α Coronae Borealis fakka فكّة
α Serpentis ʿunuq ḥayya عنق حيّة
α Scorpionis qalb al-ʿaqrab قلب العقرب
α Ophiuchi raʾs ḥawwāʾ رأس حوّا
α Lyrae wāqiʿ واقع
δ Capricornus dhanab al-jadī ذنب الجدي
α Aquilae ṭāʾir طاير
α Cygni ridf ردف
? Pegasi kaʿb faras كعب فرس
? Ceti rijl qayṭūs رجل قيطوس
β Pegasi mankib faras منكب فرس
The mother and the limb are made of separate pieces riveted together and clumsily repaired by welding at a later date. The limb is graduated on a 360° scale, numbered at five-degree intervals with numerals reading from the outside. A four-lobed throne, typical of the Maghreb, fitted with a loop and a ring, similar to European astrolabes. The base of the mother (umm) is hollow.
The back is graduated, for the upper two quarters, by two 0–90-degree scales, reading from east to west and numbered at five-degree intervals; inside is a concentric zodiacal calendar and, in the centre, a double square of shadows divided into twelve sections, with its parts named at the back.
There is one of two tympanums for the (calculated) latitudes of 21° (Mecca) and 24° (Medina). This features numbered almucantars and bears the twilight line, the markings for unequal hours and the boundaries of the prayer times, all labelled. The face for 21° is incomplete in terms of these markings.
The alidade, which is rather heavy, may have been replaced at some point.
The vanes are clumsily soldered.
Diameter: 15.4 cm.
PROVENANCE
Purchased by the current owner at La Porte d’Or, Marrakesh, in March 2001.
A very interesting instrument from which one can infer either that the dial and the case were never attached to one another, or that the instrument was damaged and required repairs. Given that the engraving of the numerals on the back extends over the rivets, it appears that these are original; however, except on the throne, the engraving does not pass completely through the thickness of the disc, as there is no trace of the rivets on the face. It is therefore conceivable that they gave way on one side, which was subsequently repaired very clumsily with solder.
The spider appears to be by the same hand, except for the inscriptions on the Capricorn circle. These are more elaborate, probably added at a later date, which suggests that the spider was never completed. Nevertheless, it is very finely crafted and original: the symmetrical arrangement of the star bases is unusual, and their almost floral decoration is unparalleled amongst known Maghreb astrolabes, although its origins can be seen in the single- or three-pointed trilobed bases found on other astrolabes of this period in the Maghreb.
The reverse side is consistent with the obverse; the later inscriptions next to the shadow square are probably in the same hand as that which added the star names to the Capricorn ring.
In conclusion, it appears that the instrument was never completed, perhaps due to damage to the rivets.
Subsequent restorations have probably been carried out.
Expert: Anthony TURNER
See original version (French)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
About the sale
THE MECHANISMS OF TIME: WATCHMAKING AND RELATED SCIENCES
Auction location
Auction time
10/09/2026 at 2:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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