qibla indicator
Date: 19th Century
Inventory Number: 7351
Classification: Qibla Indicator
Subject:
Maker: Iranian ?
Maker: Persian
Cultural Region:
Îran,
Dimensions:
Overall: 0.9 lb., 7.5 x 1.7 x 7.5 x 8 cm (0.4 kg, 2 15/16 x 11/16 x 2 15/16 x 3 1/8 in.)
Overall - Storage: 1.7 x 7.5 x 8 cm (11/16 x 2 15/16 x 3 1/8 in.)
DescriptionThe instrument has a cylindrical case with a hinged lid. There is a suspension shackle by the hinge, and its connecting pin is corroded and broken. The instrument is fashioned from gilt brass that has a very high copper content. It is much corroded.
(1a) The top of the lid has a gazetteer in the form of a circular table. It includes mostly Persian cities, plus Syria, Aleppo, Delhi, Bandar Abbas, Karachi, Mosul, Paris, London, and Berlin. A eastern-style geometric decoration is stamped in the center of the gazetteer. The circumference is stamped with a running leaf-and-flower pattern. A running flower decoration adorns the sides of the lid. There is an eye for the latch hook on the lower half of the instrument.
(1b) The interior of the lid is plain. One can see the stamping from the other side.
(2a) The base of the instrument consists of a form of compass sundial and qibla indicator. The hinged, triangular gnomon has a very small angle of less than 20°, but there do not seem to be equal hour markings associated with it. The area around the compass is divided into 12 points, with each subdivided into 3 parts. These parts are then divided uniformly (if a bit crudely) into 1° units. A rotating pointer is fitted to the base of the gnomon at the center of the circle. The compass below is divided into 8 points, and the needle and glass are present.
The exterior of the base is stamped with a scrolling foliage pattern. It is very corroded in places. There is a latch hook.
(2b) The underside of the base is similar to the top of the lid (1a) but not identical in ornamentation. The gazetteer on this side includes colonial Indian localities.
(1a) The top of the lid has a gazetteer in the form of a circular table. It includes mostly Persian cities, plus Syria, Aleppo, Delhi, Bandar Abbas, Karachi, Mosul, Paris, London, and Berlin. A eastern-style geometric decoration is stamped in the center of the gazetteer. The circumference is stamped with a running leaf-and-flower pattern. A running flower decoration adorns the sides of the lid. There is an eye for the latch hook on the lower half of the instrument.
(1b) The interior of the lid is plain. One can see the stamping from the other side.
(2a) The base of the instrument consists of a form of compass sundial and qibla indicator. The hinged, triangular gnomon has a very small angle of less than 20°, but there do not seem to be equal hour markings associated with it. The area around the compass is divided into 12 points, with each subdivided into 3 parts. These parts are then divided uniformly (if a bit crudely) into 1° units. A rotating pointer is fitted to the base of the gnomon at the center of the circle. The compass below is divided into 8 points, and the needle and glass are present.
The exterior of the base is stamped with a scrolling foliage pattern. It is very corroded in places. There is a latch hook.
(2b) The underside of the base is similar to the top of the lid (1a) but not identical in ornamentation. The gazetteer on this side includes colonial Indian localities.
Signedunsigned
Curatorial RemarksSonja Brentjes read the Arabic script in 2007.
XRF analysis of the metals was done by Katherine Eremin and Sara Schechner in August 2007.
XRF analysis of the metals was done by Katherine Eremin and Sara Schechner in August 2007.