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Description: | A complete lead or lead alloy biconvex spindle whorl, of probable Medieval dating (AD 1100 to AD 1500).The spindle whorl is sub-circular in plan, with a central, circular perforation extending vertically through the object (internal diameter 9.84 mm). The sides of the spindle whorl are slightly convex and have a repeating pattern of vertical grooves and ridges. There are four lozenge-shaped mouldings attached to the corners of the object; there is a pronounced seam around the girth of the object and is suggestive that it was manufactured by casting. The seam indicating a line between the two halves of the moulds used, which were misaligned as the lozenges are irregularly shaped.The whorl has a diameter of 24.06 MM and is 16.11 MM thick. It weighs 34.5 grams.The whorl is of a light to mid grey colour, with an even surface patina.Spindle whorls, as an artefact type, can be hard to date accurately as they remained in use for a long period of time, however lead alloy spindle whorls of this type are normally attributed to the Medieval period (c. AD 1100 to AD 1450). The weight of the spindle whorl is suggestive of a fine silk or linen thread being spun, as there is a direct relationship between the weight of the whorl and the thickness of the resulting thread. Fine threads such as silk require a lighter whorl than those used to spun wool or linen.Several similar spindlewhorls have been recorded on the PAS database, including NLM-A71A31, LEIC-C0D293, BERK-872E36, BH-3C4232 and BH-570998.
Original Image | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/r... | Go to resource |
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