Weighing 8.2 kg and measuring 45.9 cm in height, including its shackle, a 17th century brass astrolabe that once belonged to Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II and later descended to his wife Maharani Gayatri Devi, will be one of the highlights of Sotheby’s “Arts of the Islamic World & India” sale in London on April 29. Believed to be the largest of its kind and coming to the auction from a private collection in London, it is estimated to fetch between £1.5 million and £2.5 million and is expected to set a record in its category.

Describing it as “an outstanding testament to the craftsmanship of the leading makers of the Lahore School”, the auction note shares that it is one of only two known astrolabes produced jointly by master makers Qa’im Muhammad and Muhammad Muqim, who worked in the ‘family workshop’ in Lahore that was founded by the ustadh (master) Sheikh Ilah-dad, the Royal astronomer and astrolabist to the second Mughal Emperor, Humayun. Completing the piece in 1612, they had been commissioned by Mughal nobleman Aqa Afzal, who was then in-charge of the administration of Lahore during the reign of Emperor Jahangir. The other piece made by the brothers is now reportedly in the collection of the Museum of Arab Antiquities (National Museum of Iraq) in Baghdad.
The lot description notes, “The interior of the mater (is) engraved with a geographical index, the reverse engraved with a solar quadrant and shadow squares, the rete with arabesque star pointers for 38 stars inscribed with the Persian names of the stars and the Sanskrit names in devanagari, with five plates including the localities for Mecca, Bijapur, Ajmer, Kashmir, and Lahore, with alidade, pin and horse.”

Mentioning names of 94 cities in total within their longitudes and latitudes, the 38 star pointers are joined by floral tracery. The ecliptic ring is divided into 12 signs of the zodiac, with their names engraved in elongated letters covering the entire length of the sign. It also carries the expression “usturlab e tam” to denote that the astrolabe’s latitude plates carry 90 almucantar circles and are therefore “complete”.

The other highlights of the sale include a large 9th-10th century Qur’an leaf in gold Kufic script on blue vellum, 12th-13th century nielloed silver ewer that can be traced to Persia or Central Asia, a 1811-20 Indian miniature painting depicting Radha and Krishan, and 16th century Ottoman Cairene rug.