Brass Single-Plate Indian Astrolabe

Description:

Brass Single-Plate Indian Astrolabe, signed and dated in Sanskrit in the shadow box "In The Reign of Rava Bahadura Majaraja Sri Sersingh It Was Made By Haridatta, The Son Of The Victorious Astrologer Krsna On Monday 6 Suklapaksa Of Karttika Om Sam 1960 (Monday 22 October 1903). The Teacher Was Laksminarayana At Kuchamana," the rete with eighteen star pointers, the mater-plate with projections for 0-30o latitude, the rim graduated 720o divided into sixty segments of twelve half-hour degrees, the back graduated 360o divided into sixty segments of six degrees each by 6s, the alidade with sighting tube and pinholes, dia. 9 5/8 in., (pin and horse replaced with old nut and bolt).

Note: The inscription tells us that this was the work of a student of a Usta (teacher) which is similar to the Arabic word for a teacher of astrolabes. Therefore this means that Laksminarayana was teaching this ancient art in the 20th century. Kuchamana in the Sambhar district of Mawar is near the capital of Jodhpur and lies at 27o 9' N, 74o 52" S. It was noted for its manufacture of guns, swords and the like, so that the making of an astrolabe is not surprising. The ruler of Kuchamana was, according to Major K.P. Erskines's Imperial Gazetteer of India: Provincial Series of 1908, Sher Singh, a member of the State Council and Raja Bahadura, confirming the inscription. The following four astrolabes all appear to have been made in the same school, as all are remarkably similar in construction, size and style. They were purchased by the vendor in two lots at auction along with the separate rete (lot 241) and the Indian ring dial (lot 200) in this sale.
Estimate $2,000-3,000

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