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17th Century Astrolabe from Jaipur Royal Collection Set for Auction at Sotheby's
A large 17th Century brass astrolabe, previously owned by the Jaipur royal family, will be auctioned at Sotheby's in London on April 29. The instrument, made in Lahore by two brothers for a Mughal nobleman, is described as possibly the largest of its kind and has never been exhibited publicly. It features detailed engravings and is estimated to sell for 1.5 to 2.5 million pounds.
Apr 25, 7:01 PM·2m read1 source
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A brass astrolabe from the 17th Century, once part of the royal collection in Jaipur, India, is scheduled for auction at Sotheby's in London on April 29, 2026. The item, which has been in a private collection, is noted for its size and has not been displayed publicly before.
Benedict Carter, head of the department of Islamic and Indian Art at Sotheby's, stated to the BBC that it is perhaps the largest astrolabe in existence. The astrolabe was part of the collection of Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II of Jaipur and was passed to his wife, Maharani Gayatri Devi, after his death.
It later entered a private collection during her lifetime.
Design Astrolabes are metallic disks with interlocking components used historically to determine time, map stars, indicate the direction of Mecca, and track sky movements. Dr Federica Gigante of the Oxford Centre for History of Science, Medicine and Technology described them as two-dimensional projections of a three-dimensional universe, comparable to modern smartphones for their multifunctional uses, including calculating sunrise and sunset times, building heights, well depths, distances, and, with an almanac, casting horoscopes.
The instrument originated in ancient Greece in the 2nd Century BCE and spread to the Islamic world by the 8th Century, with production centers in Iraq, Iran, North Africa, and al-Andalus in present-day Spain.
Provenance It was created by brothers Qa'im Muhammad and Muhammad Muqim, part of the Lahore School of astrolabe production, for Mughal nobleman Aqa Afzal. Aqa Afzal, originally from Isfahan in Iran, held senior posts under Mughal emperors Jahangir and Shah Jahan and administered Lahore.
