{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O69976"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O69976/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AF7175/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AF7175/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AF7175","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O69976/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O69976","accessionNumber":"M.38-1916","objectType":"Astrolabe","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"This astrolabe was made in Isfahan in 1667.  It could have been used in scientific enquiry. It might have served religious purposes, such as telling the times of the five daily prayers or establishing the direction of Mecca. Astrolabes were also used in astrology, for example to cast horoscopes.\r\n\r\nFor centuries, the astronomers of the Islamic Middle East led the world in their knowledge of the heavens. Astronomical instruments such as globes and astrolabes were produced in large numbers to a very high standard.\r\n\r\nLike the celestial globe, the astrolabe was inherited from Greek and Roman astronomy. It shows the relative positions of the sun and stars on a flat surface. The solid plates are engraved for different latitudes. To use the astrolabe, astronomers placed one plate in the casing (mater) under the openwork disc (rete). The rete is a star map with pointers showing the position of the stars. They moved it to the correct position once an observation has been made with the sighting device (alidade).","physicalDescription":"Brass, pierced and engraved. Signed as made by Khalil (Muhammad) son of Husayn 'Ali, and decorated by Muhammad Mahdi son of Amin of Yazd.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Isfahani, Muhammad Khalil","id":"A17258"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"AAT251917"},"note":""},{"name":{"text":"Yazdi, Muhammad Mahdi","id":"A17259"},"association":{"text":"engraver","id":"AAT239410"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"brass (alloy)","id":"AAT10946"}],"techniques":[{"text":"engraving (incising)","id":"AAT53829"},{"text":"chased","id":"AAT54016"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Engraved and chased brass","categories":[{"text":"Images Online","id":"THES48937"},{"text":"Science","id":"THES48898"}],"styles":[{"text":"Islamic","id":"x29301"},{"text":"Safavid","id":"AAT21712"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"MES","id":"THES48607"},"images":["2006AF7175"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"42","id":"THES49806"},"free":"","case":"9W","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Astrolabe","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Iran","id":"x30220"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1667","earliest":"1667-01-01","latest":"1667-12-31"},"association":{"text":"dated","id":"AAT54714"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Clarke-Thornhill Gift","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"18.6","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"including suspension ring","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Astrolabe, Iran (Isfahan), dated 1667.","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"Tim Stanley (ed.), with Mariam Rosser-Owen and Stephen Vernoit, <i>Palace and Mosque: Islamic Art from the Middle East</i>, London, V&A Publications, 2004","id":"AUTH351313"},"details":"p.13","free":""}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Jameel Gallery \n\n2–3 Astrolabes \r\nLike the celestial globe, the astrolabe was inherited from Greek and Roman astronomy. It shows the relative positions of the sun and stars on a flat surface. \r\n\r\nThe solid plates are engraved for different latitudes. To use the astrolabe, one plate is placed in the casing (mater) under the openwork disc (rete). \r\n\r\nThe rete is a star map with pointers showing the stars’ position. It is moved to the correct position once an observation has been made with the sighting device (alidade).\r\n\r\n2 Astrolabe\r\nIran, Isfahan\r\nDated 1667\r\nBrass, cast and sheet, pierced and engraved. \r\nMade by Muhammad Khalil Isfahani and engraved by Muhammad Mahdi Yazdi  Museum no. M.38-1916\r\nGiven by T.B. Clarke-Thornhill\r\n\r\n","date":{"text":"Jameel Gallery","earliest":"2006-07-20","latest":null}},{"text":"ASTROLABE\r\nBrass, pierced and engraved.\r\nSigned as made by Khalil (Muhammad) son of Husayn' Ali, and decorated by Muhammad Mahdi son of Muhammad Amin of Yazd.\r\nPERSIAN; third quarter 17th century.\r\nClarke-Thornhill gift.","date":{"text":"Used until 10/2002","earliest":"2002-10-01","latest":"2002-10-31"}}],"partNumbers":["M.38-1916"],"accessionNumberNum":"38","accessionNumberPrefix":"M","accessionYear":1916,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LM6109","2019LP2937","2019LT7689"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-12","recordCreationDate":"2002-11-12","availableToBook":false}}