A Tudor astrolabe by Thomas Gemini and its relationship to an astrological disc by Gerard Mercator of 1551

Author

L'E Turner, Gerard; Cleempoel, Koenraad van

Document type

Article (journal)

Language

English

Source

Antiquaries journal. 2001, Vol. 81, 400-409, 5 ill.

ISSN

0003-5815

Abstract (en)

The collection of plansipheric astrolabes at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, is currently being catalogued. The collection, which is well balanced between Eastern and Western examples, comprises almost 60 instruments ranging in dates from the 14th to the 17th c., a time when the astrolabe lost its importance in the Latin West. One of the treasures at Greenwich is an astrolabe made in London ca.1550 by Thomas Gemini. It has not come down to us complete; only the throne, limb, and back survive, the rete, plates, alidade, and rule having been discarded. Its importance, however, lies in the engraved astrological information on the back, which is apparently copied from a disc made by Gerard Mercator that is dated 1551. This disc has only recently received scholarly attention.

Subject (en)

• General history of art -- 1400-1800 -- Decorative arts -- United Kingdom
• Astrolabes
• Geminus, Thomas, act.1524-1570
• Great Britain
• France
• Astrology
• Precision instruments
• Astronomical instruments
• 1500-1600
• Mercator, Gerardus (Gerhard Kremer), 1512-1594
• Belgium
• National Maritime Museum||London (GBR)
• Dee, John, 1527-1608

Subject (fr)

• Histoire générale de l'art -- 1400-1800 -- Arts décoratifs -- Royaume-Uni
• Astrolabe
• Geminus, Thomas, act.1524-1570
• Grande-Bretagne
• France
• Astrologie
• Instrument de précision
• Instrument d'astronomie
• 1500-1600
• Mercator, Gerardus (Gerhard Kremer), 1512-1594
• Belgique
• National Maritime Museum||London (GBR)
• Dee, John, 1527-1608

Origin

DatabaseBHA (Inist-CNRS/GRI)

Identifier20030101-00096996

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