AN OTTOMAN QIBLA-INDICATOR AND COMPASS, 19TH CENTURY

Brass and glass
Rectangular brass plate on wooden base, with inset compass-box, engraved place names, cardinal directions, with signature in in a panel at top.
The names and coordinates of the important capitals of Islamic world have been carved in the plate around the center of the compass. There is a compass needle that stands in the center. Compass works in these capitals. One can determine the direction for prayer towards Mecca with the compass. In addition to that with the help of the gnomon on the side indicated as west, the times of prayers can be read off from the scale adjacent to it (Sezgin, 2010: Vol III, p. 77).
Signed by "made by Ahmed b. Ibrahim es-Serbetli".
Plate: 10.2 by 10.2 cm.