Astrolabe

This astrolabe has a number of defects which prevent it from being a useful scientific instrument. The workmanship, though, is very good, so this was probably one of the many astrolabes made during the 18-19th century in Iran as decorative objects. Contemporary European travellers to Iran wrote about the craze for owning astrolabes, even amongst those who had no idea how they worked. Such a craze inevitably resulted in such attractive but non-functional objects as this one. (Notes from the Glory and Prosperity exhibition, Feb - June 2002.)