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Astronomical instrument: Qibla compass
(أداة فلكية بوصلة القبلة)

Title	Astronomical instrument: Qibla compass
Title Original	أداة فلكية بوصلة القبلة
Author	Baron Al-Mukhtari.
Author Original	بارون المختاري
Publication Date:	1151 / 1738
Publication Place	- Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts
Subject	Burning (Edirnkari technique) on wood.
Type	Other
Language	Undetermined
Digital	Yes
Manuscript	No
Physical Dimensions	القطر: 31 سم
Library:	Museum With No Frontiers
Library Asset ID	157 A-B
Record ID	object;ISL;tr;Mus01;41;ar
Library Location	Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts
Date	1151 / 1738
Notes	The Qibla compass is a portable astronomical instrument used to determine the direction of the Qibla. It is a round wooden instrument with a lid, plated with gold and decorated with lacquer, known as the Edirnkari technique, in red, pink, black and green colors. The main body includes a compass and pointer. The areas where the tool can be used are shown on a map accompanied by a list of cities written in Arabic. On the upper part of the interior surface, over a green background, are the minarets of the Grand Mosque in Mecca, and the Qibla in the middle of the courtyard. To the left are pictures of the holy places in Arafat. There are also palm and olive trees to the right and in the upper part of the scene, which serve as symbols of paradise and blessing. The background spaces are filled with decorative drawings of pomegranates placed within pages, suggesting abundance. There is a frame decorated with bouquets of flowers on a gilded background and surrounded by plant leaves extending from among the pomegranate fruits. The bouquet is considered a symbol of the Prophet Muhammad, and was a common subject in Ottoman literature and flower paintings in the 18th century AD. Placing fruit in a bowl, as a symbol of fertility, abundance, and immortality, was a typical theme for that period. The inscription on the lower part of the inner cover shows that the instrument was made in Istanbul by Baron al-Mukhtari in 1151 / 1738; It also includes instructions on how to use the tool. The outer surface of the cover is decorated with a natural pattern known as Turkish Baroque-Rococo on a gilded background. You see vases filled with roses and blossoms surrounded by garlands of acanthus leaves and vines. There are six oval medallions inside the composition, which show many natural images, similar to which were found in wall paintings of the same period. These pictures include scenes of lakes, houses between beach trees, luxurious homes, and villages on the opposite shore, all of which are drawn in a deep, visually deceptive way.
Sample Text	Gönül Tekeli “Astronomical Instrument: Qibla Compass” in Discover Islamic Art. Museum Without Borders, 2026. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;ISL;tr;Mus01;41;ar

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Astronomical instrument: Qibla compass

(أداة فلكية بوصلة القبلة)

Author Baron Al-Mukhtari.

Author Original بارون المختاري

Publication Date 1151 / 1738

Publication Place - Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts

Subject Burning (Edirnkari technique) on wood.

Type Other

Language Undetermined

Digital Yes

Manuscript No

Physical Dimensions القطر: 31 سم

Library Museum With No Frontiers

Library Asset ID 157 A-B

Record ID object;ISL;tr;Mus01;41;ar

Library Location Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts

Date 1151 / 1738

Notes The Qibla compass is a portable astronomical instrument used to determine the direction of the Qibla. It is a round wooden instrument with a lid, plated with gold and decorated with lacquer, known as the Edirnkari technique, in red, pink, black and green colors. The main body includes a compass and pointer. The areas where the tool can be used are shown on a map accompanied by a list of cities written in Arabic. On the upper part of the interior surface, over a green background, are the minarets of the Grand Mosque in Mecca, and the Qibla in the middle of the courtyard. To the left are pictures of the holy places in Arafat. There are also palm and olive trees to the right and in the upper part of the scene, which serve as symbols of paradise and blessing. The background spaces are filled with decorative drawings of pomegranates placed within pages, suggesting abundance. There is a frame decorated with bouquets of flowers on a gilded background and surrounded by plant leaves extending from among the pomegranate fruits. The bouquet is considered a symbol of the Prophet Muhammad, and was a common subject in Ottoman literature and flower paintings in the 18th century AD. Placing fruit in a bowl, as a symbol of fertility, abundance, and immortality, was a typical theme for that period. The inscription on the lower part of the inner cover shows that the instrument was made in Istanbul by Baron al-Mukhtari in 1151 / 1738; It also includes instructions on how to use the tool. The outer surface of the cover is decorated with a natural pattern known as Turkish Baroque-Rococo on a gilded background. You see vases filled with roses and blossoms surrounded by garlands of acanthus leaves and vines. There are six oval medallions inside the composition, which show many natural images, similar to which were found in wall paintings of the same period. These pictures include scenes of lakes, houses between beach trees, luxurious homes, and villages on the opposite shore, all of which are drawn in a deep, visually deceptive way.

Sample Text Gönül Tekeli “Astronomical Instrument: Qibla Compass” in Discover Islamic Art. Museum Without Borders, 2026. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;ISL;tr;Mus01;41;ar