A rare and ancient instrument used to measure time and space has been found in Italy after it was reported stolen from a Swedish museum over ten years ago.

The instrument, an astrolabe, was found by Christopher Marinello, a lawyer at London's Art Loss Register.

"Usually I'm recovering stolen paintings by Matisse or Picasso - and those are a lot sexier," Marinello told The Local on the phone from London.

"And this is a brass astrological instrument. But I must say, it's really fascinating and so ornate. It's amazing to think that you can still use it to tell time or to write an astrological map of the stars."...