{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O87522"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O87522/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AB9491/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AB9491/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AB9491","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017JY2062","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O87522/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O87522","accessionNumber":"M.827-1928","objectType":"Celestial globe","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"For 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\nThis globe was made in Mashhad in 1640-1. Such instruments were used in scientific enquiry, or served religious purposes, such as telling the times of the five daily prayers or establishing the direction of Mecca. They were also used in astrology – to cast horoscopes, for example.\r\n\r\nCelestial globes show the heavens from above. Individual stars are marked by inlaid silver dots, while engraved figures represent the 48 constellations inherited from Greek and Roman astronomy. The stand is probably original, but the meridian ring that once spanned the globe is missing.","physicalDescription":"Metal celestial globe, the two hemispheres joined at the equator. Full set of constellation figures (including the zodiac), with about 1018 stars indicated by small inlaid silver points. Signed in Arabic between the two southern poles. The quadruped metal stand may be contemporary with the globe.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Zaman, Muhammad","id":"A16855"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"AAT251917"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Metal (brass), inlaid with silver","categories":[{"text":"Science","id":"THES48898"},{"text":"Religion","id":"THES48900"}],"styles":[{"text":"Islamic","id":"x29301"},{"text":"Safavid","id":"AAT21712"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"MES","id":"THES48607"},"images":["2006AB9491","2017JY2062"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"42","id":"THES49806"},"free":"","case":"9W","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"42","id":"THES49806"},"free":"","case":"9W","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Stand","id":""}],[{"text":"Celestial globe","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Mashhad","id":"x35038"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1640-1641","earliest":"1640-01-01","latest":"1641-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Sir Charles Marling, GCMG, CB","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"33","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Diameter","value":"21","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"signature","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"The work of the dust of the threshold of Riza, Muhammad Zaman, 1050 [or 1051]","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""}],"objectHistory":"Formerly in the collection of Sir Charles Marling, K.C.M.G.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Brass celestial globe, Iran (Mashhad), 1640-41.","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Emily Savage-Smith, <i>Islamicate Celestial Globes: Their History, Construction, and Use</i>, Washington, D.C.: 1985, p.226, no. 16; inscription transcribed, p. 288; illustrated, p. 48 (fig. 21); discussed, pp. 214-15."},{"reference":{"text":"J. Curtis, I. Sarikhani Sandmann and T. Stanley, Epic Iran: 5000 Years of Culture, London: V&A Publishing, 2021.","id":"AUTH397834"},"details":"Page 174, cat. 135","free":""}],"production":"date can be read as 1051 or 1050 (AH)","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"zodiac symbols","id":"AAT9937"},{"text":"constellations","id":"x36351"},{"text":"stars","id":"AAT9811"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Jameel Gallery \r\n\r\nCelestial Globe\r\nIran, Mashhad\r\nDated 1640-1\r\n\r\nCelestial globes show the heavens from above. Individual stars are marked by inlaid silver dots, while engraved figures represent the 48 constellations inherited from Greek and Roman astronomy. The stand is probably original, but the meridian ring that once spanned the globe is missing.\r\n\r\nBrass, cast in two halves and joined, engraved and inlaid with silver. Signed by Muhammad Zaman\r\n\r\nMuseum no. M.827-1928. Given by Sir Charles Marling, GCMG, CB","date":{"text":"Jameel Gallery","earliest":"2006-07-20","latest":null}}],"partNumbers":["M.827PART/1-1928","M.827-1928"],"accessionNumberNum":"827","accessionNumberPrefix":"M","accessionYear":1928,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE","Stand","Celestial globe"],"assets":["2019LM9915","2019LP8036","2019LP2538","2019LW7359"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-08-15","recordCreationDate":"2003-12-17","availableToBook":false}}