Astrolabe (detail), owned by Robert Gordon of Straloch, Aberdeenshire

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This is a detail of a brass astrolabe dating from the early 15th century. The instrument was made in France, probably by Jean Fusoris (c. 1365-1436), and later owned by Robert Gordon (1580-1661) of Straloch in Aberdeenshire.

The detail shows part of the back of the instrument, where the later date of 1597 has been added to the shadow square. The instrument was probably re-conditioned in that year for Gordon at the time of his early studies in Paris.

In addition, two of the latitude plates have been re-engraved for the latitudes of Straloch and Edinburgh. This re-engraving probably also dates from 1597.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-044-462-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  T.1947.27
• Date: c. 1460
  Early 15th century
  
• Material: Inscription: Robertius Gordonius [on rim]
  Astrolabe
  
• Dimensions:
• What: Astrolabe
  
• Subject: 3. ASTRONOMY, Astrolabes (Departmental Classification)
  
• Who: Gordon of Straloch (Owner)
  
• Where:
• Event:
• Description: Gordon of Straloch's astrolabe, probably dating from 1460, with Robertius Gordonius on rim
  
• References:
  • For Gordon's map-mapping contribution, see Royal Scottish Geographical Society, The Early Maps of Scotland to 1850. Edinburgh: 1973, pp 44-53, 138 
  • Macdonald, A. & Morrison-Low, A.D., A Heavenly Library: Treasures from the Royal Observatory's Crawford Collection. Edinburgh: Royal Observatory & NMS, 1994, p 25 
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