Publication Date
639/ 1241-2
Publication Place
-
British Museum
Subject
Yellow brass engraved and inlaid with gold and silver.
Type
Other
Language
Undetermined
Digital
Yes
Manuscript
No
Physical Dimensions
الارتفاع 28.8 سم؛ الطول 33.7 سم؛ العمق 2.2 سم
Library
Museum With No Frontiers
Library Asset ID
1888.5-26.1
Record ID
object;ISL;uk;Mus01;18;ar
Library Location
British Museum
Date
639/ 1241-2
Notes
A rectangular instrument made of brass alloy and consisting of three pieces: a front plate with graduated rings, a back plate, and the frame that surrounds them. On the front plate there are 19 small circles engraved around a small relief block and a window above it, showing a small part of the inscribed ring located behind the plate. There is a larger stepped half-ring near the center and four diagonal arches on the far right of the front plate. On the upper side and between these rings there are inscriptions inlaid with gold or silver wire. There is a prominent triangular piece made of arabesque that was used to hang this instrument. This prominent part resembles the ring (chair or throne) at the top of the astrolabe, from which it hangs. The back plate is decorated with dense bands of writing and arabesques. Sandblasting is the art of revealing the unseen, so this tool was used to predict the future. On each ring there is a series of writings spreading like rays from the central button; When the button is turned, the ring under the plate rotates to reveal in the window a different arrangement made up of silver dots (numbered between four and seven), which in turn match the writing indicated by the arrow on the button. These dots represent the planets. The cursive writing above 16 of the 19 rings gives the locations of the "houses" of astrology. According to the arrangement of the dots in the windows, an indicator appears that ranges between bad luck and good luck. The method of interpreting these marks was derived from the Arab heritage of sandblasting, which was done by drawing marks in the sand.
Sample Text
Emily Shovelton “Sand Striking Tool” in Discover Islamic Art. Museum Without Borders, 2026. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;ISL;uk;Mus01;18;ar
