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 round bone spindle whorl with a raised collar was excavated at Nishapur. It is decorated with two bands of dot-in-circles bordered by incised lines. The dots were filled with black paste at one time, but the filling has since been lost. 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