A massive 400-year-old astrolabe crafted by Mughal artisans and once owned by Jaipur royalty has sold at auction for millions, setting a record for the intricate navigation instrument. The 17th-century brass device—sometimes called a supercomputer of its era—showcases the sophistication of astronomical and navigational technology from the Mughal period.
·The Mughal-made astrolabe fetched a record price at Sotheby's auction
·The instrument was owned by the royal family of Jaipur, India
·Astrolabes were highly valued tools for navigation and astronomical observation in the 17th century
·A Spanish Armada-era astrolabe recently returned to Scilly after traveling globally
·Renaissance artists like Paolo Veronese depicted astrolabes in allegorical paintings as symbols of navigation
drawn from Smithsonian Magazine, BBC, Artnet News, LACMA · updated 28d ago