REPLICA OF BRASS OTTOMAN ASTROLABE SULTAN BEYEZID-II Start Price USD 499.99 Current Price USD 499.99 Time Left - Bid Count 1 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Tuesday, October 07, 2008 End Time Tuesday, October 14, 2008 Location Mumbai, MH See more about 'REPLICA OF BRASS OTTOMAN ASTROLABE SULTAN BEYEZID-II' Description   OTTOMAN ASTROLABE for SULTAN BEYEZID - II    ACTUAL PRICE OF THIS PRODUCT IS $1500   OTTOMAN ASTROLABE for SULTAN BEYEZID - II  This is an original functioning astrolabe - only made recently in the same technique and style by one of the descendants from the family of the original maker using the same treaties and identical notaions and inscriptions. Just for information - one similar but original antique piece was auctioned and sold a few years ago by Christies for a little over 40,000 Pounds. ( Please read the full description to the very end ) A brass astrolabe made by al-Ahmar al-rumi for the treasury of the Ottoman Sultan Bayezid 2 Turkey,dated A.H.911/1505-06 A.D. comprising a mater with a double loop for suspension, three discs and an alidade, with incised details, the reverse with two calligraphic roundels, the pin modern 9.5cm.,3¾in. diameter;6mm,3/16in.thickness. This important astrolabe is one of two known pieces dedicated to the Ottoman Sultan Bayezid 2 (reigned 1481-1512 A.D.).There are no other known astrolabes dedicated to an Ottoman Sultan, not even in the Topkapi Sarayi Museum. This piece represents the beginning of a new Ottoman tradition in modestly- decorated astrolabs, a tendency to be observed already in various earlier Syrian pieces made by professional astronomers themselves rather than by professional craftsmen. The other, made in the previous year by Shukrallah Mukhlis Shirwani, is more than in the Persian tradition and is more ornately decorated in a distinctive style; it is preserved in the Museum of Islamic Art in Cairo. The makers of both works are not otherwise known (see further below).  The history of early Ottoman astronomy in general (from the 14th to the early 16th century) has not yet been properly researched. It was influenced by the Seljuq Turkish tradition (Anatolia,13th century), of which very few sources and not a single instrument survive ;by the colorful Mamluk tradition (Egypt and Syria,13th -15th centuries)2,and by the vigourous likhanid and Timurid traditions(Iran and Central Asia,13th – 15th centuries)3.The sources for Ottoman astronomy have recently been properly documented for the first time4,and the amount of possible research for the future a daunting.  The interest of Bayezid II for astronomy is well known.The institution of court munajjims (astronomer-astrologers)and mosque muwaqqits (timekeepers) were well established in his time. The Sultan studied mathematics and astronomy with his private teacher, who was none other than Miram Chelebi, the grandson of Qadi Zade al-Rumi,director of Ulugh Beg’s observatory at Samarqand, Numerous astronomers dedicated their works to Bayezis,including treatises on instruments and highly sophisticated tables. He himself commissioned his teacher to prepare a Persian Commentary to the astronomical tables of Ulugh Beg.  The early Ottoman tradition of instrument making (14th -16th centuries) is represented only by these two presentation pieces for Bayezid 2. All other surviving Ottoman astrolabes are later than these two, indeed at least a century later. Out of a total of some 30 odd- pieces 6, none shows any indication of having been influenced specifically by either of these two pieces.  The astrolabe of Bayezid - II The workmanship is competent but, primarily, this is an astrolabe designed to be used. The engraving , in kufic, is elegant and distinctive. The Arabic Alphanumerical(abjad) notation is used throughout, except for the date, which is written in Hindu-Arabic numerals. The throne is undecorated, with lobes on either side of the upper lobe and smaller protrusions at the far left and right. The suspension apparatus, a shackle and ring, is attached at the top of the throne. The mater bears a circumferential scale divided for each 5° and subdivided for each 1 °, labelled 5°-1°-5°-2°-…-5-(3)6°.The base circles for the equinoxes and solstices are engraved in the inside of the mater.(This was a common practice, which enabled additional markings to be added at will). The rete is unusual design, it is simply decorated. The horizontal diameter is rectilinear (not counter- changed), as was standard on early Eastern Islamic astrolabes. The Vertical axis is complete, but incorporates some decorative features. Above the centre there is a heart-shaped, or perhaps rather hoe-shaped, frame in the upper half of the ecliptic (not known on any other astrolabe).Above this is an flower-shaped design with six petals, at the centre of which is a silver knob, which serves, along with three others, two at either end of the horizontal diameter and another below the centre, to turn the rete over the appropriate plate. The earlier development of these designs can be traced (see the commentary below). The scale of the ecliptic is divided for the zodiacal whose names are the standard forms: Ai-hamal-al-thawr-al-jawza’ – alsaratan-al-asad-al-sunbula-al-mizan-al-‘aqrab-al-qaws-al-jady-al-dalw-al-hut And each sign is divided into five unlabelled 6-intervals. The star-points are shaped like jesters’ hats, developed –as if by lack of starching-from the dagger-shaped pointers on early Eastern Islamic astrolabes. They serve 15 named stars, here listed in order of increasing right ascension (counter-clockwise from the vernal equinox) and identified: 1….al-dabara*n………………24/18……..alpha Tauri 2….riijl al-jawza’……………37/19……...beta Orionis 3….(al-shi’ra)al-yamaniya…..39/23……...alpha Canis Maioris 4….(al-shi’ra)al-sha’miya …..40/25……... alpha Canis Minoris 5….qalb al-asad……………..26/30………alpha Leonis 6….(al-simak)al-a’zal……….29/39………alpha virginis 7….(al-simak)al-ramih………1/41………..alpha Bootis 8….’unuq(al-hayya)…………12/196……..alpha Serpentis 9….---fakka[illegible word]#....2/45………alpha Coronae Borealis 10....qalb al-‘aqrab…………....30/48……...alpha scorpii 11…. (ra’s)al-hawwa’…….......11/51………alpha Ophiuchi 12…. (al-nasr)al-ta’ir…………13/54………alpha Aqailae 13….dhanab al-dajaja…………6/56……….alpha Cygni  14….dhanab al-jady…………...32/59……...delta Capricorni 15….mankib (al-faras)…………17/62……..beta Pegasi  #One might expect al-munir min al-fakka or nayyir al fakkar There are three plates with five sides engraved with altitude-circles for each 3°, labeled for each 6 °. The altitude arguments are engraved in lined ‘cartouches’ on the left and right, continuing down the centre( i.e. up the meridian) to the zenith, which is lebelled 90° within the altitude circle for 84 °. Such cartouches are found already on some of the plates of 10th century astrolabes. The east-and west points are labeled al-mashriq and al-maghrib below the horizon .There are no azimuth curves. The curves for the seasonal hours below the horizon are labeled 1,2,…..,12.(On the plate for 41;30 ° the ‘I’ has been repeated but the mistake realized: the numbers run 1-1-2-3-4-6….).The astrolabe markings serve latitudes:  33° 36° 39° 40° 41° 3°.  The latitudes are indicated by the expression ‘ard--‘latitude--. No localities are associated with these, but see the commentary. On the back of the plate for latitude 33° is a set of half-horizons arranged in four quadrants and marked for latitudes: 28°/38° 33°/48° 32°/45° 30°/43° The back is simply executed. Above the horizontal diameter there are two altitude scales with divisions labeled for each 5°, subdivided for each 1degree.In the upper left quadrant is a sexagesimal(base 60) trigonometric grid with equi-spaced horizontal and vertical lines drawn for each 3 units. In the upper right quadrant the dedication is engraved within a double circle. The rim of the lower left quadrant is devoid of markings and in this quadrant the name of the maker is engraved on a single line. The rim of the lower right quadrant is marked with a scale for shadows to base 12 and is labeled zill-i-asabi,’ shadow in digits’. The scale begins at the bottom and is marked up to 25 digits, each 5 being labeled, with subdivisions for each 1 unit. Inside this quadrant there is a shadow square to base 12 with horizontal and vertical scales divided and labeled for each 3 units (digits), subdivided for each single unit. The dedication reads:  li-rasm khizanatil’l-a’zam  al-sultan ibn al-sultan sultan Bayazid ibn Muhammad khan  khallada [‘IIah] mulkahu ‘By order of the Treasury of the Greatest Sultan, sultan son of sultan, Sultan Bayezit son of Mehmet Khan-may[God]make his dominion last for ever’. The inscription naming the maker reads: Sana’ahu’l-Ahmar al-Nujumi al-Rumi fi sanati 911 Hijriyya ‘constructed by al-Ahmar al-Nujumi al-Rumi in the year 911 Hijra  The date is written in Hindu –Arabic numerals and corresponds to 1505/06 A.D. The alidade is not counter – changed and is decorated with clef-shaped ends. There is a sexagesimal scale on one half of the alidade, Labeled 6-12-…-50-60, for use in conjunction with the trigonometric quadrant on the back. The decoration of the rete The basic simplicity of the rete is in the tradition of some of the non-presentational pieces from Mamluk Syria, such as the one made by the Damascus astronomer Ibn al-Shatir in A.H.726/1325-26 A.D. 9. The flower on the rete can be traced back to the decorative quatrefoil on the spectacular astrolabe of the astronomer al-khujandi, made in Baghdad in A.H374/984-85 A.D.10. This quatrefoil, probably Byzantine in inspiration, is found on several astrololabes from the IIslamic East over the centuries, notably on one made in Isfahan in A.H.618/1223-24 A.D.11. On this piece the quatrefoil occurs above a frame shaped like the side cross-section of an artichoke, which encloses the star-pointer for Vega, graphically represented as an eagle. Various later Eastern Islamic astrolabes show this combination of motifs, which on this astrolabe for Bavyezid 2 appear in a much simplified form. The Isfahan astrolabe mentioned above also has star-pointer of the jester-hat variety. The Latitudes used for the plates  The plate for 33° serve Damascus and Baghdad;36°-Aleppo and Mosul;39° – Kayeseri,Konya(?) and Ankara;40 °-Bursa and Sivas.The plate for 41°30’ was clearly intended for Istanbulm although the latitude of that city is correctly 41°2’.There were severe problems with medieval values for the latitude of Constantinople, which was often taken as 45°12 and Ottoman astronomers were the first to measure it properly. For comparison we note the latitudes served by the plates on the other astrolabe dedicated to Bayezid 2, namely 21°,30°,330,36°,38°,40°,41°.The first and second would have been intended for Mecca and Cairo, the Istanbul and 380 for Konya and Malatya.  The maker The maker of this astrolabe,al-Ahmar al-Runi al-Nujumi,is unknown to the modern literature on Islamic instrumentation13. His name is unusual and means ?the red one?. NEBERTHELESS, THE NAME Ahmar is an attested Muslim name. The epithet alRumi indicates that he was a Turk from Central Anatolia14. The epithet al-nujumi indicates that he was an astronomer, yet he is not mentioned in the recently-published bio-bibliographical survey of Ottoman astronomers and their works15 which means that he did not author any treatises. Likewise the maker of the other astrolabe dedicated to Bayezid2 is otherwise unknown. Endnotes: Gunther 1932,I,p.126,no.12. The piece has been misdated to A.H.(8)91/1496A.D.,but the date is clearly A.H. 910/1504-5 A.D. See the illustrations of the front and back (to Hartner 1938) in Pope 1938/39,3,p.2518,and 6,pl.1399,and Mayer 1956, p.83,for further bibliography.  See King 1983. See Kennedy 1968 and 1986. Ihsanoglu 1997. See Adnan 1939,pp.28,35,43-52; the numerous references in Ihsanoglu 1997, 2, p.992; as well as King 1980, pp.247-248.  A preliminary catalogue of these has been prepared in Franfurt as part of a larger ongoing project to catalogue all medieval Islamic and European instruments (see King 1991a). Several Ottoman astrolabes are featured in Dizer 1986 and Moulierac 1989. A handlist of astrolabes is in Prince et al. 1973.  See Irani 1995. The numbers are those in Kunitzsch 1990, pp.158-161, and Kunitzsch 1959, pp.59-96, and p217(for no.8). Paris 1991, p.435(no.331). King 1995, pp.80 and 82-89, no. 2.  Gunther 1932, 1,pp. 118-120, no. 5. Kennedy & Kennedy 1987, pp.93- 94. The basic reference works is still Mayer 1956.  Article ‘Rumi’ in El. See no. 5 above The above note was prepared for the auctioneers Christies with assistance of the famous Professor David A. King, Frankfurt.  The Astrolabe listed above has been made by a descendant  Abdul Wahid from the same family of the artisans who made the original in the same technique used so many centuries ago . The source of the design was the treaties which remained with the family for years passed on from one generation to other along with the designs, measurements and the notations. Even the current maker does not know the full use of this important instrument and can neither explain nor interpret many of the inscriptions!  We came across this family in the Northern part of India and it took nearly six months for them to make one piece and that too after much persuasion. We are aware that there may be faults but the same faults are also there in the original which was auctioned by Christies a few years back for an astonishing sum of 40,000 Pounds Sterling. We present this Ottoman Astrolabe in all its rarity. Very few survived and most are in private A-1 Museums. Even many museums display only a picture of an astrolabe – and many collectors spend their lifetime searching for one. Also many people would not be able to afford such astronomical prices but as everybody wants one in their collection, we have made this available and within easy reach of most buyers. Also, we have spent a fortune in making this piece in working Condition and matching all designs and inscription in the treaties.  Please note that this is not a mass produced replica astrolabe – this is a piece with all its originality in measurement, notations and craftsmanship and hand-made meticulously. This is an original piece and the only difference is that this is made at recent times.  We have also consulted leading authorities on this instrument and they have all confirmed the originality of the instrument. This is truly a rare treasure and no serious collector should miss this auction. Also, we offer 100% refund guarantee if the item is returned within three days of purchase. Please ask all questions before you bid. We do not accept bids from China and Russia for technical reasons.  Express delivery within 3-4 days to most parts of US, UK, Europe and Middle East.   View from Front     View from Back     Slides Picture     Slides Picture     Slides Picture     Slides Picture   Slides Picture   Slides Picture   Slides Picture   Slides Picture   About Us Mughal Bazaar is a reputed name for preparing world class Replica's in India. We are the only one of its type. We have a dedicated staff who make a constant effort to give a total different look to the product. Many sellers across the world buy our product and sell them as original antiques so be aware of such sellers. Payment & Shipping Terms International buyers can make a payment through Pay Pal. This is truly a rare treasure and no serious collector should miss this auction. Also, we offer 100% refund guarantee if the item is returned within three days of purchase. Please ask all questions before you bid. 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