Arts of the Islamic World
Arts of the Islamic World
A SAFAVID BRASS HORIZONTAL DIAL AND QIBLA INDICATOR, SIGNED BY MUHAMMAD MAHDI AL-YAZDI, PERSIA, SECOND HALF 17TH CENTURY
Auction Closed
October 23, 04:16 PM GMT
Estimate
20,000 - 30,000 GBP
Lot Details
Description
A SAFAVID BRASS HORIZONTAL DIAL AND QIBLA INDICATOR, SIGNED BY MUHAMMAD MAHDI AL-YAZDI, PERSIA, SECOND HALF 17TH CENTURY
rectangular brass plate on four riveted feet, with inset compass-box, engraved hour lines, place names, cardinal directions, meridian line, with signature in spandrel
7 by 10.8cm.
inscriptions
‘Muhammad Mehdi al-Yazdi decorated it’
There are a handful of astrolabes and compasses attributed to Muhammed Mehdi al-Yazdi, an astrolabist who worked predominantly between 1649 and 1663 (Rogers 2010, p.311, no.366). One such astrolabe signed by him and dated 1060 AH/1650 AD is currently in the Nasser D. Khalili Collection (Rogers 2010, p.311, no.366) as well as another engraved by him and dated 1667 in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London (inv.no. M.38-1916).