Spindle, Weight, Loom, D2012.86
Physical Description
Thin, round, smooth, twig of wood/bamboo(?) slightly tapered at both ends. Bottom end of wood shaft has been inserted into an egg shaped lump of clay. It is unclear as to whether clay has been fired at low temp. or sun dried. Clay egg appears to have been first painted with a gray wash and then had stripes of blue and brown painted over the wash and the around the circumference of the egg. Cotton/wool fibre has been wrapped/spun onto the wooden shaft. Spindle whorl appears to have had little if any use. Is in good shape.
Research Notes
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 an egg shaped lump of clay. It is unclear as to whether clay has been fired at low temp. or sun dried. Clay egg appears to have been first painted with a gray wash and then had stripes of blue and brown painted over the wash and the around the circumference of the egg. Cotton/wool fibre has been wrapped/spun onto the wooden shaft. Spindle whorl appears to have had little if any use. Is in good shape. Length of wood shaft = 262mm. Width of shaft at widest point = 3.1mm. Length of clay (along shaft) = 24.3mm. Widest point of clay = 24mm. —Joel A Vanderburg
Provenance
Locality
Nigeria
Measurements
Length: 270mmAll Rights Reserved