28. Jade Dragon Cup

Despite being ruler of most of the Stans, Timurid ruler Ulugh Beg  was more interested in astronomy than ruling. His  astronomical charts were the most accurate available and  were widely used in Europe.  Arabic speaking astronomers were brought to China during the Yuan dynasty  (13^th -14^th C) bringing new technology such as the terrestrial globe & armillary sphere. For centuries they ran an Islamic Astronomical Bureau in Beijing. This item: Jade cup carved from nephrite and polished  is inscribed with the name Ulugh-Beg – Kuragan (meaning royal son in-law), made in Samarkand. It was made between 1420 and 1449 and is about 20cm long.