JISCMail - HIST-NAT-HIST Archives

On Tue, Jan 11, 2022 at 2:22 PM Charlotte Tancin <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

Hello, and my apologies for cross-posting. We received this query last week, and were unable to make a satisfactory plant identification. I asked John Davis if he would like me to post his query to this SHNH list, and he readily agreed. If you can assist him, would you please contact him directly? Thank you! -- Chuck Tancin
-:- -:- -:- -:- -:- -:- -:- -:- -:- -:- -:-
Charlotte Tancin, FLS – Librarian
Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation
Carnegie Mellon University
4909 Frew Street – HL Receiving
Pittsburgh, PA 15213-3833
Phone: 412-268-7301
Fax: 412-268-5677
Internet: [log in to unmask] -- or -- [log in to unmask]
Web site: http://huntbotanical.org

JOHN'S QUERY:

Name *

John Davis

Email *

[log in to unmask]

Phone Number

(473) 646-8646

Company/Organization

Individual

Question/Comments:

Dear Librarians/Archivists

I am researching some 14th century English astronomical brass instruments and would like to ask for your help on a possible botanical connection, please.
The instruments (astrolabes) have pointers indicating individual named stars. Sometimes, the pointers are anthropomorphic or zoomorphic, eg a dog's head for the Dog Star Sirius. A group of astrolabes associated with King Edward III has, quite unusually, some pointers which appear to be botanical in nature. These are 3-D representations finely sculpted into the brass, either for single stars or sometimes as multiples. I have attached some sample images.
Since Edward was a member of the Plantagenet line, my first guess was that the plant represented was the Broom (the 'Planta Genista' from which the name derives). However, the match to the images that I have found is not particularly convincing. I am wondering if there was a particular variety of broom in 13th century France (where the name originated) which might provide a better match, or if the shapes suggest to you a different plant.
My background is as a scientist and historian of science so I am rather out of my depth here. Thus, any help or advice on how to pursue this enquiry would be gratefully received.

Regards
John Davis

To unsubscribe from the HIST-NAT-HIST list, click the following link:
https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/WA-JISC.exe?SUBED1=HIST-NAT-HIST&A=1

Name *	John Davis
Email *	[log in to unmask]
Phone Number	(473) 646-8646
Company/Organization	Individual
Question/Comments:
Dear Librarians/Archivists I am researching some 14th century English astronomical brass instruments and would like to ask for your help on a possible botanical connection, please. The instruments (astrolabes) have pointers indicating individual named stars. Sometimes, the pointers are anthropomorphic or zoomorphic, eg a dog's head for the Dog Star Sirius. A group of astrolabes associated with King Edward III has, quite unusually, some pointers which appear to be botanical in nature. These are 3-D representations finely sculpted into the brass, either for single stars or sometimes as multiples. I have attached some sample images. Since Edward was a member of the Plantagenet line, my first guess was that the plant represented was the Broom (the 'Planta Genista' from which the name derives). However, the match to the images that I have found is not particularly convincing. I am wondering if there was a particular variety of broom in 13th century France (where the name originated) which might provide a better match, or if the shapes suggest to you a different plant. My background is as a scientist and historian of science so I am rather out of my depth here. Thus, any help or advice on how to pursue this enquiry would be gratefully received. Regards John Davis