Lot 186: An Ottoman Painting Depicting A Zâtü'l-Kürsü (Armillary Sphere)...
An Ottoman Painting Depicting A Zâtü’l-Kürsü (Armillary Sphere) With Arabic Inscriptions, 19th Century.
The composition depicts a Zâtü’l-Kürsü, an Ottoman representation of an armillary sphere, illustrated as a spherical framework of intersecting rings mounted upon a stand. The structure is composed of calibrated bands and geometric divisions, each inscribed with Arabic script, numerical notations, and celestial markings.
The diagram represents astronomical and geographical lines used to model the movement of stars and planets around the Earth, reflecting the scientific practices of Islamic astronomy. Additional schematic elements, including quadrant-like instruments, appear in the upper corners, reinforcing the technical and instructional nature of the work.
Executed in ink and hand-painted watercolour on paper, the composition features a restrained palette of ochre, green, and muted tones, with fine linear detailing throughout. Inscriptions and seals appear beneath the main instrument, consistent with manuscript traditions associated with Ottoman scientific study, often incorporating astronomical tables and calculations.
Approximately 55.3 x 45.3cm
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