Search Request | Object report
Astrolabe
Lost Art-ID
210324
Artist
Title
Astrolabe
Datierung
1567
Object type
Group of reported objects
Material / Technique
brass, enamel, gilding, glass / gilded, engraved, enamelled, mounted
Height
2.60 cm
Diameter
16.40 cm
Inventory number
K 380 (Ahv 156)
Description
Octagonal astronomical-geographical table set consisting of cover, middle plate and base connected on one side by hinges. On the top of the lid figural representations of the planets, planets as hour regents and a graphic conversion table for civil, Italian, Babylonian and ancient hours. Inside of lid with horizontal clock and inscription "HOC HORILOGIVM SVI INDICIS VMBRA LINEAM MERIDIANAM CVIVSLIBET REGIONIS AVT VRBIS HIC DESCRIPTAE MONSTRAT"; the clock dial is inlaid with a map of the world, which can be covered by an octagonal inlay plate bearing the inscription "DESCRIPTIO TOAE ITALIAE AC ALTERI PARTIS ID EST GERMANIAE CVM SVIS INSVLIS AC BROXIMIS FINIBVS" and depicting Germany with Prague as the center on the obverse and Italy on the reverse; the cardinal points are indicated on the rim. Center plate with centrally inset compass framed by a 32-piece compass rose with colored prongs; outer rim surfaces engraved with blowing aeolian masks. Underside of center plate with engraved ribbonwork and mauresques; on compass base a lunar clock with moon goddess indicating lunar duration for each night of the lunar cycle and the inscription "IN HIS QVINQVE CIRCVLIS INCREMENTVM ET DECREMENTVM LVNAE ITEM QVOT HORAS ET MINVTA SINGVL : NOCTI : LVC : SIMVL : COMMV : HOR : HIC : INVE". On the inside of the base, a solar disk, a lunar quarter, and a radial Julian calendar with daily saints. On the outside of the base plate a perpetual calendar with Metonic cycle, key numbers of the movable feasts, solar cycle and signs of the zodiac. On the outer rim the signature "CHRISTOPHERVS SCHISSLER FACIEBAT AVGVSTAE VINDELICORVM [Maureske] ANNO DOMINI 1567". belongs to octagonal disc, inv.no. 15438.
Provenance
Lost in Gotha in 1945, the astrolabe entered the collection of the Toledo Museum of Art in Toledo / Ohio, USA, in 1954. The committees of the TMA decided in 2014 to return the piece to Gotha. The handover took place in March 2015.
Status
restituted
Published since
Contact
Stiftung Schloss Friedenstein
Gotha
Schlossplatz 1
99867 Gotha
Germany
Phone
0049 (0) 03621 8234-0
Fax
0049 (0) 03621 8234-290
Contact
Dr. Timo Trümper
Position
Kustode für Gemälde und Plastik
Phone
+49 (0) 3621 8234 553
Contact
Dr. Tobias Pfeifer-Helke
Position
Stiftungsdirektor
Phone
+49 (0) 621-8234 100
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