A rare 17th-century Mughal astrolabe, crafted in Lahore in 1612 by brothers Qa'im Muhammad and Muhammad Muqim, is heading to Sotheby's London on April 29 with an estimate of £1.5 million to £2.5 million ($2 million to $3.4 million). Weighing nearly 20 pounds and measuring the diameter of a large cooking pot, it is one of only two known astrolabes by these makers—the other resides in the National Museum of Iraq. Commissioned by Aqa Afzal, a Safavid-born deputy governor of Lahore, the instrument lists 94 cities, 38 stars, zodiac signs, and includes quadrants for trigonometry and solar calculations, blending Islamic and Sanskritic astronomical traditions.
This astrolabe could surpass the current auction record for such an object—just under £1 million ($1.4 million) paid for a 15th-century Ottoman astrolabe in 2014—underscoring growing market demand for pre-modern scientific instruments with exceptional craftsmanship and historical provenance. Its size, artistry, and connection to the Mughal empire's golden age under Emperor Jahangir make it a significant cultural artifact, while its journey from the collection of Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II to a private London collection highlights the global circulation of heritage objects.