An astrolabe commissioned for Jahangir's courtier, Afzal Khan
A monumental highly important brass astrolabe commissioned for Aqa Afzal, made by Qaim Muhammad and Muhammad Muqim, India, dated Rabi' al-Awwal 1021 AH/May 1612 AD
Auction Closed
April 29, 03:14 PM GMT
Estimate
1,500,000 - 2,500,000 GBP
Lot Details
Description
cast brass, the mater with high lobed kursi with shackle, the front of the kursi inscribed in nasta'liq with the date and name of patron, the reverse inscribed with the maker's names, the interior of the mater engraved with a geographical index, the reverse engraved with a solar quadrant and shadow squares, the rete with arabesque star pointers for 38 stars inscribed with the Persian names of the stars and the Sanskrit names in devanagari, with 5 plates including the localities for Mecca, Bijapur, Ajmer, Kashmir, and Lahore, with alidade, pin and horse
39.8 cm height
45.9cm. height including shackle
29.5 cm diam.
8.2 kg
Formerly in the collection of H.H. Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II of Jaipur (1912-70);
By descent to his wife, H.H. Maharani Gayatri Devi, Rajmata of Jaipur (1919-2009);
Private collection, London
S. Sarma, A Descriptive Catalogue of Indian Astronomical Instruments, Supplement, Dusseldorf, 2024, no. A17a
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