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Francis Maddison and Emilie Savage-Smith, with contributions
by Ralph Pinder-Wilson and Tim Stanley
This two-part volume contains a large and important group of objects
and manuscripts that may be broadly categorised as scientific instruments,
tools or magical implements.
Many objects of this kind have never before been systematically
catalogued, and this volume brings together much information previously
scattered to present a corpus of material for future comparative
study.
The astronomical instruments are those primarily connected with
the three fundamental motivations of Islamic astronomy: the determination
of the times of prayer; of the azimuth of the qiblah and the direction
of Mecca; and the teaching and practice of cosmology and astrology.
The Collection includes important individual pieces, among them
a fine celestial globe made in 1285-6 and a unique Judeo-Arabic
astrolabe of circa 1300. 218 entries include medical manuscripts,
magic bowls, amulets and other magical or geomantic devices that
reflect different aspects of medieval Islamic medical care, while
a group of mortars, a selection from the large collection of locks,
and miscellaneous tools such as scissors, scales and weights, complete
this survey of objects which embody the varied preoccupations of
Islamic culture.
The information presented includes a ground-breaking study of leather
workers in medieval Iran.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Francis Maddison was formerly Curator, Museum of the History of
Science, University of Oxford; he is a Fellow of the Society of
Antiquaries, and author of several works on scientific instruments
and their makers.
Dr Emilie Savage-Smith is Research Associate at the Wellcome Unit
for the History of Medicine, Oxford, and author of several studies
on medical and devinatory practices in the medieval Islamic world.
Ralph Pinder-Wilson was formerly Keeper, Department of Oriental
Antiquities, British Museum, London, and has made an outstanding
contribution to the study of the decorativre arts of Islam.
Tim Stanley is Deputy Curator of the Khalili Collection, and an
Ottoman historian who has written mainly on the history of manuscripts
and calligraphy.
DETAILS
set of two parts; 440 pages; fully illustrated in colour; numerous
line drawings; section on documentary inscriptions
35.5 x 25.5 cm
hardback with dust jacket (slipcased)
1997
1-874780-59-5
£125 $250
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