Astrolabe of ‘Umar ibn Yusuf ibn ‘Umar ibn ‘Ali ibn Rasul al-Muzaffari
dated A.H. 690/ 1291 CE
Medium
Brass; cast and hammered, pierced, chased, inlaid with silver
Dimensions
Case (a): Max. W. 7 5/8 in. (19.4 cm) Diam. 6 1/8 in. (15.6 cm) D. 1/4 in. (0.6 cm) Bar with attached nail (b): Max. H. 1 7/8 in. (4.8 cm) Max. W. 1 1/8 in. (2.9 cm) L. 5 in. (12.7 cm) Net (c): Diam. 5 in. (12.7 cm) Plates (d-g): Diam. 5 in. (12.7 cm) Pin (h): L. 1 3/4 in. (4.4 cm) W. 1/2 in. (1.3 cm)
Classification
Metal
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Edward C. Moore Collection, Bequest of Edward C. Moore, 1891
Accession Number
91.1.535a–h
Tags
Art Historical Context
Step into the cosmos with the *Astrolabe of ‘Umar ibn Yusuf ibn ‘Umar ibn ‘Ali ibn Rasul al-Muzaffari*, a masterful brass instrument crafted in 1291 CE (A.H. 690) during the golden age of Islamic science. Made by the named artisan, likely connected to the scholarly Rasulid dynasty in Yemen, this astrolabe exemplifies the era's seamless blend of astronomy and artistry. Portable yet precise, it served as a multifunctional tool for measuring star altitudes, determining prayer times, finding directions, and surveying land—essential for navigators, astronomers, and devout Muslims aligning life with...