Egyptian Coptic Bone Spindle Whorl

£ 25.00

A polished Egyptian hemispherical domed bone Coptic spindle whorl, pierced through the centre. The whorl is decorated with a series of incised concentric circles to the front and reverse. The base is flat and a few scratches cover the surface.

Date: Circa 5th - 10th Century AD
Period: Coptic Period
Condition: Very fine condition.

SOLD

SKU: SA-70 Category: Tag:

Spindle whorls were a useful accessory to the spindle; wool would have been twisted around the spindle then spun and left to drop pulling the fibres and creating yarn. The whorl would have been attached to the spindle helping to control the speed of the process. The weight of a whorl would determine the force applied while the diameter dictated the amount of twists performed during one spin. This technique for spinning dated from the Iron Age to the early post-medieval periods.

Weight 5.4 g
Dimensions W 2.7 cm
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Reference: For Similar: The Metropolitan Museum, Item 40.170.332

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