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101 - AN ANCIENT MAGHREBI ASTROLABE BEARING THE NAME OF MUHAMMAD I…
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Estimate €12,000 - €18,000
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Description
AN ANCIENT MAGHREBI ASTROLABE BEARING THE NAME OF MUHAMMAD IBN SULEYMAN AL-MAGRIBI, AND THE DATE 1675–76. Planispheric astrolabe in hammered and engraved brass, comprising a mother, a spider, two tympanums, an alidade, a pin and a wedge known as a ‘horse’. The mother is surmounted by a scalloped throne fitted with a loop and a large suspension ring. The limb is divided into 360°, subdivided into 2-degree increments. The interior of the mother is engraved with the signs of the zodiac. It is engraved in Maghreb Kufic script with the names of the stars. The reverse bears the following scales from the periphery towards the centre: degrees graduated in 2°, a concentric zodiacal calendar, a scale of unequal hours, a sine/cosine abacus, and a double square of shadows. The reverse of the throne is inscribed with Muhammad ibn Sulayman al-Maghribi followed by the date 1086 H. (1675–76) in Arabic script. The spider is fitted with four pins (mudir) to facilitate rotation. (Signs of wear; at least one star index broken). A MAGHRIBI ASTROLABE IN THE NAME OF MUHAMMAD IBN SULAYMAN AL-MAGHRIBI, AND THE DATE 1675–76. DIAM. 10.5 CM (4 1/8 IN.) - HEIGHT (THRONE) 13 CM (5 1/8 IN.) - HEIGHT (RING) 15 CM (5 15/16 IN.) The inscription reads: […]'atahu ? Muhammad ibn Sulayman al-Maghribi sana 1086 h. " ( ?) Mohammed son of Suleyman al-Maghribi in the year 1086 of the Hegira (1675–76) " One of the dials is for the latitude of Meknes, and for all latitudes; the second gable is for the latitudes of Marrakesh and Sijilmassa. The Maghreb was a centre of great activity for mathematicians and astronomers from the 11th century onwards, and a great many astrolabes were manufactured there. The best known are those of the ibn al-Battuti brothers, dating from the late 17th century and the first half of the 18th century, at the height of this art. The name Muhammad ibn Sulayman al-Maghribi is not listed in the reference work by Alain Brieux and Francis R. Maddison, *Répertoire des Facteurs d'Astrolabes et de leurs œuvres en Terre d'Islam*, Brepols, 2021, which suggests that the craftsman who engraved his name on this astrolabe was not specialised in the manufacture of scientific instruments and that he probably made this astrolabe for his own personal use. This is corroborated by the fact that certain elements, such as the engraving lines and graduations, lack precision. The first word of the inscription has not been deciphered; it could be a word derived from the verb ‘sana’a’ (was made). The nisbah ‘al-Maghribi’ indicates that Mohammed b. Soleyman was originally from the Maghreb, a fact corroborated by the style and the type of Maghribi Kufic script used for the engraving, as well as by the dials, which are set for the latitudes of three cities in Morocco. One medallion indicates the latitude of Meknes on one side, and all latitudes on the other; the second medallion indicates the latitudes of Marrakesh and Sijilmassa.
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About the sale ORIENTALISM, ISLAMIC ART & PHILHELLENISM
Auction location
Auction time 06/22/2026 at 2:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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