Rare 16th-Century Astrolabe Returns Home After Mysterious Global Journey
A centuries-old navigational instrument, once used by sailors to determine latitude, has made its way back to the Isles of Scilly in a remarkable tale of discovery and rediscovery. The Pednathise Head astrolabe, a rare example of a 16th-century navigational tool, spent hundreds of years hidden beneath the waves before being hauled to the surface by divers.
The journey of the astrolabe is as fascinating as its history. Initially found in the wreck of a Spanish ship off Pednathise Head in the early 1990s, it was initially sold and eventually lost track of. However, after passing through various private collections in Australia and the US, the instrument ended up in a museum on the Florida Keys.
It's a remarkable story that highlights the intrigue surrounding these rare artefacts. According to James Jobling, a US expert on astrolabes, "There are very few examples of 16th-century navigational instruments surviving worldwide, making this find truly significant." The astrolabe was later identified and purchased by the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum in the Florida Keys.
The instrument eventually found its way back home after passing through several hands. In a surprising twist, it had been sold to an Australian antiques dealer, only to be seized by the state due to the seller's criminal past. It then surfaced again in New Jersey, where it was donated to the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum.
After being rediscovered and verified as the Pednathise Head astrolabe, the instrument made its final journey back to Scilly. The curator of the Isles of Scilly Museum, Xavier Duffy, said "We're thrilled to have it back on Scilly and in the care of the museum. We can't wait to share its story with visitors." The astrolabe is now set to become a highlight of the islands' revamped museum next year, where it will be displayed as part of the navigation case.
The discovery of this rare navigational instrument highlights the importance of preserving our cultural heritage and protecting historical artefacts. As Lydia Bassett, director of Scilly Arts & Heritage, aptly put it, "It's great timing for us because our museum will open next autumn." The Pednathise Head astrolabe is a testament to the ingenuity and skill of sailors from centuries past, and its return to Scilly marks an exciting new chapter in the islands' rich maritime history.
A centuries-old navigational instrument, once used by sailors to determine latitude, has made its way back to the Isles of Scilly in a remarkable tale of discovery and rediscovery. The Pednathise Head astrolabe, a rare example of a 16th-century navigational tool, spent hundreds of years hidden beneath the waves before being hauled to the surface by divers.
The journey of the astrolabe is as fascinating as its history. Initially found in the wreck of a Spanish ship off Pednathise Head in the early 1990s, it was initially sold and eventually lost track of. However, after passing through various private collections in Australia and the US, the instrument ended up in a museum on the Florida Keys.
It's a remarkable story that highlights the intrigue surrounding these rare artefacts. According to James Jobling, a US expert on astrolabes, "There are very few examples of 16th-century navigational instruments surviving worldwide, making this find truly significant." The astrolabe was later identified and purchased by the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum in the Florida Keys.
The instrument eventually found its way back home after passing through several hands. In a surprising twist, it had been sold to an Australian antiques dealer, only to be seized by the state due to the seller's criminal past. It then surfaced again in New Jersey, where it was donated to the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum.
After being rediscovered and verified as the Pednathise Head astrolabe, the instrument made its final journey back to Scilly. The curator of the Isles of Scilly Museum, Xavier Duffy, said "We're thrilled to have it back on Scilly and in the care of the museum. We can't wait to share its story with visitors." The astrolabe is now set to become a highlight of the islands' revamped museum next year, where it will be displayed as part of the navigation case.
The discovery of this rare navigational instrument highlights the importance of preserving our cultural heritage and protecting historical artefacts. As Lydia Bassett, director of Scilly Arts & Heritage, aptly put it, "It's great timing for us because our museum will open next autumn." The Pednathise Head astrolabe is a testament to the ingenuity and skill of sailors from centuries past, and its return to Scilly marks an exciting new chapter in the islands' rich maritime history.
So this astrolabe thingy has been on some wild journey, huh? From getting lost in the wreck of a Spanish ship to ending up in Australia and then Florida, it's like something out of a movie 
. I mean, who would've thought it'd end up back in the Isles of Scilly after being seized by the state because of some shady seller? 
It's crazy how these historical artefacts can just get lost track of for centuries.
. I wish we knew more about its history and what kind of adventures it had during its time at sea, but I guess that's the story being told by the curator and museum staff next year 
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. And now it'll be on display as part of the Isles of Scilly Museum's revamped navigation case, so I hope people will actually check it out instead of just seeing the old pictures online 
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this is so cool! i mean who wouldn't wanna be part of an adventure like that? first it's in australia, then the us, and finally back home to scilly. i feel like a detective solving clues 
it just goes to show how much we can learn from our history and the people who came before us. i love that it's going to be displayed at the museum next year - can't wait to see it in person! 
i can imagine how emotional it must be for the curators and the museum to have it back after all those years of being gone 
and can you even imagine what it must've been like for the sailors who used it all those centuries ago? navigating the seas, discovering new lands... it's just incredible 
. And what's with all the countries involved - Australia, US, Florida Keys... it's like it was playing some sort of global treasure hunt game 
. I guess you could say it's a good thing it finally ended up back on Scilly, but I'm not buying the whole 'great timing' thing 
. I mean, if they had to wait all this time to get their hands on it... maybe it was just trying to avoid being lost forever 
.
That's some wild journey for an old map tool 
. It's wild to think it was hidden beneath the waves for so long, passing through all these hands. I wonder what kind of stories it could tell if it could speak... its metal plates must have seen some crazy things on its journey around the world 
. The fact that it was almost lost forever due to some shady dealings is pretty sad, though 
. But at least it's back in good hands now and will be able to share its history with the public next year. I think it's cool that the islanders are revamping their museum – it'll be a great way for people to learn about their maritime past 
. Anyway, can't wait to see this ancient piece up close when it goes on display...
this story just blows my mind! who knew something so tiny could travel across the globe 5 times? it's crazy to think about all those people who touched or owned it before it ended up back where it started. i mean, what were the chances of it being sold by a shady antiques dealer with a criminal past? 
. Anyway, glad it ended up with the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum, which is like the ultimate underwater treasure trove... of history 
! I mean, can you believe all the amazing twists and turns it went through before ending up on Scilly? It's like a real-life treasure hunt story 
. And to think it spent hundreds of years under the sea, hiding secrets only the ocean could keep 
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. Like, we only have so many of these amazing artefacts left in the world, and it's up to us to protect and share them with future generations 
. So here's to the Pednathise Head astrolabe – may it continue to inspire wonder and awe for years to come 
!
just learned about this ancient astrolabe that sailed around the world 
️
I'm so stoked that the Pednathise Head astrolabe finally made it back home! It's like a treasure hunt in reverse, you know? From being lost and sold to various collectors, only to end up being seized due to shady dealings. It's wild how this thing traveled across the globe multiple times before landing back where it belonged. 
And can you imagine seeing that thing on display at the Scilly Museum next year? Mind blown! The fact that it's a 16th-century navigational instrument is just mind-blowing, like, whoa! We need more of these kinds of discoveries to remind us about our history and the people who came before us. 
until it finally ended up back where it started 
and now it's gonna be on display at the scilly museum next year 
The fact that it was bought by an antiques dealer with a shady past is pretty wild too - you feel bad for the guy but also kinda glad he got caught. Anyway, I'm hyped to see this baby go on display at the Isles of Scilly Museum next year! It's like we're getting a piece of history right in front of us