Epact Scientific Instruments of Medieval and Renaissance Europe

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Astrolabe
Unsigned
circa 1300; English
Brass; 462 mm in diameter

This unusually large, very accurately and elegantly engraved instrument had been in the possession of Sir Hans Sloane and was therefore part of the founding collections of the British Museum in 1753.

The presence of the names of three saints of particular English significance (Dunstan 19th May, Augustine of Canterbury 26th May, Edmund 20th November) in the list on the back and the plate marked for London make an English origin most likely.

One plate is marked for 48? 30', the latitude of Paris.

British Museum, London
Registration no. MLA SL54

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