Spindle Item Number: Sf975 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Spindle consisting of a wooden shaft with a cone shaped whorl positioned near one end. A small section of red, two ply s twist yarn is wound on the shaft above the whorl and a ball of yarn with less plying twist is attached to the spindle.

History Of Use

Men, women and children spin yarn whenever their hands are not otherwise occupied; while walking, herding or visiting. Children learn to spin between 3 and 5 years of age. The majority of yarns are spun from a families own sheep's wool. Alpaca fibre is traded. Commercial yarns are purchased in Puno and re-twisted to make them suitably durable for warp-faced textiles. Commercial yarn is being prepared for weaving a warp-faced fabric.

Specific Techniques

Drop spindle; adding s twist to a commercial s ply yarn.

Iconographic Meaning

The direction of yarn twist for ordinary use ply. Yarns spun in the opposite direction to this are made for ritual and magical purposes and are called lloq'e or 'left' spinning.

Cultural Context

textile production

Narrative

Bought from Gonzalo Yucra Huatta who made the sample for the Museum on a spindle previously used by his family.

Item History

What

Name
Spindle
Identification Number
Sf975
Type of Item
spindle
Material
synthetic fibre, wood and dye
Manufacturing Technique
whittled and retwisted
Overall
height 31.7 cm, diameter 4.8 cm

Who

Culture
Quechua
Creator
Gonzalo Yucra Huatta (Maker)
Field Collector
Mary Frame
Previous Owner
Mary Frame
Received from
Mary Frame (Seller) and Museum of Anthropology Shop Volunteers (Funding source)

Where

Holding Institution
MOA: University of British Columbia
Made in
Taquile, Puno, Peru

When

Creation Date
on May 16, 1982
Collection Date
during 1982
Ownership Date
before February 10, 1983
Acquisition Date
on February 10, 1983

Other

Item Classes
textiles
Condition
good
Accession Number
0861/0035