Sultan Selim III Ottoman Mühendishane Period Bronze Astrolabe, Dated H.1222 (1807)

A DATED OTTOMAN ASTROLABE IS VERY RARE...

The astrolabe, which was manufactured during the Engineering School (Mühendishane) period in the Ottoman Empire during the reign of Sultan Selim III, consists of a main body, five discs, ruler and fixing apparatus. The astrolabe, which is an elaborate instrument designed to determine the solar or stellar hour at a specific location, allowing the user to make a number of astronomical or astrological observations. The instrument is adorned with astrological zodiac symbols, geometric rulers and inscriptions expressing the months of the year with the hand-carving technique to make astronomical calculations. It continued to be used in the Islamic world until the twentieth century, with the development of other instruments for observing and determining time. This astrolabe, which is very valuable as the Ottoman date 1222 (1807) is written on it, is a rare collectible example of its kind.

15.5x1.5cm