Spindle Whorl

Unknown

9th–10th century · Bone; incised and inlaid with paint · Islamic Art

Spindle whorls aided in the making of thread by maintaining the momentum of the spindle. This convex spindle whorl with a slightly concave bottom was excavated at Nishapur. Three incised lines encircle the central hole, jutting from the bottom ring are seven triangles, arranged radially, each filled by a dot-in-circle. All incised lines and shapes were once filled with colored or white paste that has since faded. Hundreds of spindle whorls were excavated at Nishapur, providing further evidence that the city possessed a thriving textile industry. Their incised designs exhibit a wide variety of motifs ranging from geometric forms to zoomorphic figures.

Artist

Unknown

Date

9th–10th century

Medium

Bone; incised and inlaid with paint

Department

Islamic Art

Credit line

Rogers Fund, 1940