Astrolabe: obverse

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The authenticity of this astrolabe is under question. There can be little doubt that the poorly-engraved plate was made to replace a set of now-lost original plates, and its maker has tried unsuccessfully to imitate certain curves from a conventional plane with a stereographic projection. The mater and rete are much more likely to be genuine and could herald from 14th century France or Italy. Letters from the NMM archives explain that a new suspension ring and rule were made in 1939 to accompany the sale of the instrument to the Museum. Show more