Spindle, Weight, Loom, D2012.83

Thin, round, smooth, twig of wood/bamboo(?) slightly tapered at both ends. Bottom end of wood shaft has been inserted into a squat basket shaped lump of clay. Wood shaft extends only part way into clay, so end of shaft is actually the clay. It is unclear as to whether clay has been fired at low temp. or sun dried. Clay appears to have been first painted with a gray wash and then had stripes (& black triangles) of black, white, and reddish brown painted over the wash and around the circumference of the clay. (A spot of white paint and a stripe of black paint nearly circumscribes the shaft slightly above the clay.) Spindle whorl appears to have had little if any use. Is in good shape.

Consistent with donor description as from Maiduguri (Borun Province, Northern Nigeria). Wood (bamboo?) & clay. Clay has been painted. Spindle whorl for spinning raw material (cotton/wool) into thread/yarn. Thin, round, smooth, twig of wood/bamboo(?) slightly tapered at both ends. Bottom end of wood shaft has been inserted into a squat basket shaped lump of clay. Wood shaft extends only part way into clay, so end of shaft is actually the clay. It is unclear as to whether clay has been fired at low temp. or sun dried. Clay appears to have been first painted with a gray wash and then had stripes (& black triangles) of black, white, and reddish brown painted over the wash and around the circumference of the clay. (A spot of white paint and a stripe of black paint nearly circumscribes the shaft slightly above the clay.) Spindle whorl appears to have had little if any use. Is in good shape. Length of wood shaft = 278mm. Width of shaft at widest point 2.7=mm. Length of clay (along shaft) = 22.1mm. Widest point of clay = 25.3mm. —Joel A Vanderburg

Donated

Locality Nigeria