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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Not recorded, Iran (Persia) · fl. 1481–1506

Muḥammad Ṣaffār

Partially verified

Persian planispheric astrolabe maker

Life & work

Muḥammad Ṣaffār, who signed himself Shams ad-Dīn Muḥammad Ṣaffār, made brass planispheric astrolabes in Persia; he is known from two signed instruments in the History of Science Museum, Oxford.

The earlier is dated 886 AH (1481/2) and the later 911 AH (1505/06), so his recorded work spans at least a quarter of a century. Both backs carry the same signature formula, calling the maker the servant in need of God the forgiving, followed by his name and the year. Both also carry the shadow-square label 'The shadow of the fingers is vertical / The shadow of the feet is extended'.

He is a different maker from Muḥammad ibn al-Ṣaffār, the eleventh-century astrolabe maker who worked in Córdoba and Toledo in Umayyad al-Andalus.

The fuller biography summarises the open references listed under Sources; each statement was checked against the cited passage. Confirm key dates in period documents before relying on them.

Documented works

  • Astrolabe dated 886 AH (1481/2), with an Indo-Persian type throne and inscriptions in Kufic and Naskhi scripts; History of Science Museum, Oxford, inventory 39063, presented by Lewis Evans in 1924.
  • Astrolabe dated 911 AH (1505/06); History of Science Museum, Oxford, inventory 51182, presented by J. A. Billmeir in 1957.

Collecting significance

The catalogued pieces listed on this page show the kinds of objects auction houses, dealers and museums attribute to this maker; each attribution is the source's own.

Firms, key models & movements

No firm, model or movement in this encyclopedia is yet recorded under this maker's name.

In the object catalogue

2 catalogued objects are recorded under Muḥammad Ṣaffār. Attributions are as given by each source and are not independent authentication.

  • Front view of the astrolabe, showing the rete, limb scale, and suspension assembly.
  • Front view of the brass astrolabe showing the rete, pin, and degree-scaled limb.

Sources & references

  1. Astrolabe report (inventory number 39063), History of Science Museum, Oxford, retrieved 2026-11-03 (paraphrased; text © the publisher)
  2. Astrolabe report (inventory number 51182), History of Science Museum, Oxford, retrieved 2026-11-03 (paraphrased; text © the publisher)
  3. Muḥammad ibn al-Ṣaffār | The Posen Library, posenlibrary.com, retrieved 2026-11-03 (paraphrased; text © the publisher)

Where sources disagree, the disagreement is stated rather than resolved silently.