Rare Jaipur astrolabe heads to Sotheby’s auction
A rare 17th-century brass astrolabe, once part of the royal collection of Jaipur, is set to be auctioned at Sotheby's in London on 29 April, drawing strong interest from collectors and museums. The historic instrument, described as a handheld astronomical computer, belonged to the royal collection of Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II of Jaipur before being passed to his wife, Maharani Gayatri Devi, and later entering a private collection. It has never been publicly exhibited. Experts say it is likely one of the largest astrolabes ever made. According to Sotheby’s specialists, its scale, condition, and royal provenance make it an exceptional piece of scientific and artistic heritage. Astrolabes were advanced instruments used in earlier centuries to measure time, track celestial bodies, determine direction, and perform complex astronomical calculations. They were also used for navigation and religious purposes, including finding the […]
