A BRASS CELESTIAL GLOBE, SIGNED BY AL-ISKANDERANI, INDIA, 19TH CENTURY A BRASS CELESTIAL GLOBE, SIGNED BY AL-ISKANDERANI, INDIA, 19TH CENTURY A BRASS CELESTIAL GLOBE, SIGNED BY AL-ISKANDERANI, INDIA, 19TH CENTURY A BRASS CELESTIAL GLOBE, SIGNED BY AL-ISKANDERANI, INDIA, 19TH CENTURY A BRASS CELESTIAL GLOBE, SIGNED BY AL-ISKANDERANI, INDIA, 19TH CENTURY A BRASS CELESTIAL GLOBE, SIGNED BY AL-ISKANDERANI, INDIA, 19TH CENTURY A BRASS CELESTIAL GLOBE, SIGNED BY AL-ISKANDERANI, INDIA, 19TH CENTURY A BRASS CELESTIAL GLOBE, SIGNED BY AL-ISKANDERANI, INDIA, 19TH CENTURY

A BRASS CELESTIAL GLOBE, SIGNED BY AL-ISKANDERANI, INDIA, 19TH CENTURY

Reference: ART4001418

Of typical spherical form, the globe with engraved markings and figures, sitting within a four-legged stand with vegetal motifs and markings incised around the rim. 32 cm. height with stand, 20 cm. globe diam.

Inscriptions on the globe: amal al-Iskanderani 1312 AH/1894 AD 'work of al-Iskanderani' This small globe belongs to a stylistically distinct group of nearly thirty known decorative, yet non-functional, pieces which, although many of them carry names and dates from the 17th and 18th centuries depend iconographically on a sanskrit work Jewel of the Essence of All Sciences which, written between 1822 and 1839 by Durgashankara Pathara, contains astronomical and astrological material illustrated by four celestial maps.

For a full, illustrated and detailed discussion of these globes, see Emilie Savage-Smith in Raby (general Ed.), The Nasser D. Khalili collection of Islamic Art, xii, Science, Tools and Magic, vol.II, London & Oxford, 1997, pp.406-13. The standard work is Savage-Smith, E., Islamicate Celestial Globes, 1985.