Spindle Whorl

Item number Sf682 from the MOA: University of British Columbia.

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Description

Fouteen spindle whorls threaded on handspun cotton yarn; six are convexly conical, of incised black on orange ceramic; one is flat ceramic disc; four are globular or conical stone (?), these are green (three) and yellow (one). One of the green is half missing and two are decorated with drilled, dotted circles. The yellow is plain. Two whorls are made of yellow shell; one truncated biconical whorl is made of metal and is now covered in green deposit. All whorls have a central hole.

History Of Use

Spindle whorls are circular weights which were used to give stability and momentum to the spindle shaft. Rotating the spindle shaft generated twist which transformed loose fibres of cotton or alpaca into spun threads. Women and girls were frequently buried with spindles and weaving tools which may indicate the bulk of textile production, including spinning, was done by females.

Item History

Made in Peru between 1 and 1500
Collected between 1949 and 1966
Owned by Anonymous before May 4, 1981
Received from Anonymous (Donor) on May 4, 1981

What

Name: Spindle Whorl
Identification Number: Sf682
Type of Item: spindle whorl
Material: cotton fibre, metal, shell, stone and clay
Manufacturing Technique: modelled, fired, incised, polished, cast, drilled and pecked
Overall: height 2.0 cm, diameter 9.0 cm