IMPORTANT & EXTREMELY RARE SAFAVID BRASS ASTROLABE IN HEBREW & PERSIAN, DATED AH 1114/1702-03AD.Probably made by jews or for jewish community in persia. The brass mater with arabesque throne with upper trilobed palmette and suspension shackle, the reverse engraved with the date1117 and with a dedication inscription in nasta'liq, the rim graduated [0-360° ] to 1° with larger markings every 5°, with five platesengraved in Arabic, Persian & Hebrew on both sides each bearing stereographic projections for various latitudes each engraved withinscriptions in naskh and panels of elegant split palmettes, altitude circles every 6° and azimuth arcs every 10°, the reverse of onebearing a table of horizons, the rete with 19 named star pointers, the reverse of the mater with shadow square and projection forequal hours and a planetary table, the alidade with two holed sighting vanes and cusped cartouches containing scrolling vine issuingsplit palmettes at either end, the edge with long inscription cartouches with the name of the patron alternated with small quatrefoilcartouches containing flowers and split palmettes, the bird and pin possibly later, with suspension loop at top. A VERY REMARKABLEPIECE.

Extremely Fine Quality