Qibla indicator Circular, chased and engraved brass, incorporating a compass protected by a glass, set in an openwork frame and accompanied by a needle and graduations. On each side of the lid is a central rosette surrounded by calligraphic cartouches showing the names of cities in the Islamic world, including Kermanshah, Najaf, Baku, Tbilisi, etc. Fine annotations in cursive script group these cities by region. On the inside of the lid are the following cities: Sana'a, Aleppo, Damascus, Lahore, Kabul, Kandahar and Delhi. The back of the compass reads: Shiraz, Qatif, Bahrain, Kerman, Hormuz, Balkh, Bam, Herat, Sistan, Merv, Nishapur, Mashhad. Iran, Safavid art (1501-1722), late 17th - early 18th century. D. 5.5 cm The Qibla wall indicates the sacred direction of the Kaaba in Mecca, towards which believers turn to pray. During the Safavid period, the precise determination of this direction gave rise to numerous publications, research studies, treatises, complex maps and scientific instruments. Although travel compasses of this type were produced in large numbers during this period, this one is a particularly refined example.