Spindle whorl

A spindle whorl is a disc or spherical to whorled object fitted onto the spindle to increase and maintain the speed of the spin. Historically, whorls have been made of materials like amber, antler, bone, ceramic, coral, glass, stone, metal (iron, lead, lead alloy), and wood (oak). Local sourced materials have been also used, such as chalk, limestone, mudstone, sandstone, slate, lydite and soapstone.

Spinning with a whorl (c) on a spindle (b) and distaff (a) (above)

Gallery

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  Spindle Whorl (Sulsultin), Chemainus, Coast Salish (Native American), 19th century, Brooklyn Museum

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  Whorl (12th or 13th century) found in Poland

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  Ancient Greek spindle whorls, 10th century BC, Kerameikos Archaeological Museum, Athens

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  Muisca spindle whorl (500AD – 1500AD). Archaeology Museum, Sogamoso, Colombia

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  Whorl made of antler, Viking Age (793–1066 AD), Björkö, Sweden