brass, with later replacement rete

In the 1950s in the possession of Messrs. Malcolm Gardner, and recorded in Mayer, Islamic Astrolabists, pp.70-71.no.II.

International Instrument Checklist no.1124

In good overall condition, clean and bright, some patination and wear to verso and extremities, in generally good condition, as viewed.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

An elegant Safavid astrolabe with an unusual throne cut with a symmetrical design bordering on floral.

Three invocations are tightly engraved on the three flat surfaces:
"O he who has (ya man lahu) the .... (?)", "O he who has the power, and praise be to (him)," and "O he who has the dominion, and praise be (to him)."

The outer scale of the limbus is divided into labelled 5° intervals but not further subdivided. The rim is engraved with the famous Throne Verse from the Qur'an.

The rete is a later replacement.

There are four plates, with astrolabic markings for latitudes 22°, 30°, 32°, 34°, 35°, 36°, and a set of horizons.  Those for 32° and 22° would serve Isfahan and Mecca.  The altitude circles are for each 3° and the azimuth circles are for each 9° (unusual, but attested elsewhere).  On some plates, markings are given for the hours after sunset and before sunrise in addition to the standard seasonal hours.

The mater is engraved with a gazetteer arranged in a spiral with 30 sets of entries for 29 localities, the top sector being labelled "directions (abbreviations corresponding to the four quadrants of the horizon), localities, longitudes, latitudes and qiblas (inhirafat).  The data is standard for Isfahan astrolabes.

The back is typical of the Safavid productions.  The outer scale is divided and labelled for each 5° and subdivided for each 1°.  ღIn the upper left there is a trigonometric quadrant with horizontal parallels for each 1° and superposed on this are the markings for a universal horary quadrant.  In the upper right i🐼s a solar quadrant with curves displaying graphically the altitudes of the sun at midday for a series of latitudes and the altitudes of the sun when it is in azimuth of the qibla at a series of cities, including Kufa, Baghdad, Isfahan and Tus.  Below the horizontal diameter are scales and tables displaying standard astrological information.  Below a double shadow square to bases 7 and 12 there is a cartouche bearing an inscription: "Made by Muhammad Mahdi al-Khadim al-Yazdi."