Hide this Notice The browser you are using is not officially supported by the RRN.

The Reciprocal Research Network has been designed for use with a number of modern browsers. Some browsers lack support for a number of features used on the RRN and may cause the site to operate slowly or appear incorrectly. You may continue to use the site but please consider taking a few minutes to upgrade your browser.

There is also a basic version of the RRN that may work better with your current browser: Try the Basic Version

Recommended Browsers

Spindle Whorl

Item number Nbz857 a-b from the MOA: University of British Columbia.

Hide Tip

Item Records

This page shows all the information we have about this item. Both the institution that physically holds this item, and RRN members have contributed the knowledge on this page. You’re looking at the item record provided by the holding institution. If you scroll further down the page, you’ll see the information from RRN members, and can share your own knowledge too.

The RRN processes the information it receives from each institution to make it more readable and easier to search. If you’re doing in-depth research on this item, be sure to take a look at the Data Source tab to see the information exactly as it was provided by the institution.

These records are easy to share because each has a unique web address. You can copy and paste the location from your browser’s address bar into an email, word document, or chat message to share this item with others.

  • Data
  • Data Source

This information was automatically generated from data provided by MOA: University of British Columbia. It has been standardized to aid in finding and grouping information within the RRN. Accuracy and meaning should be verified from the Data Source tab.

Description

Wooden spindle whorl (parts a-b) consisting of a cylindrical spindle tapering towards the proximal end, with convex surfaces at both ends (a), and a whorl made from a plano-convex sphere segment with a central hole (b). The designs on part b are raised through block engraving. The design consists of three heads, one anthropomorphic and two zoomorphic. The zoomorphic heads are bird-like and fish-like in appearance. The following is written in pencil on the concave surface of the whorl, with incising along the edges of the lines: Ramsey Louis Musqueam Res 1995 Spindle Whorl.

History Of Use

Homer Barnett (1955) notes that spindle whorls used by the southern Coast Salish of British Columbia are larger than those used in the north, with a shaft that is twice as long as the whorl. In the north, fibres were spun on smaller whorls that were "twirled between the leg and palm (1955:118)." By contrast, whorls such as this one were used to spin fibres that were suspended from overhead. This arrangement created a tension in the roving. Johnson and Bernick (1986) report that traditionally several different techniques were used for turning the spindle, however, contemporary weavers now make use of a spinning machine that is similar in appearance to a treadle sewing machine.

Specific Techniques

Michael Kew (1980) notes that spindle whorls are typically engraved, with many exhibiting an advanced wood working technique known as block engraving in which the figures are raised and details are added with sharply incised lines and other stylized elements. Design elements, such as human figures are often done in low relief. Animals are portrayed with blunt noses and birds have straight edges to their wings. The designs are outlined on a flat surface and then given depth through incising.

Cultural Context

weaving; contemporary art

Iconographic Meaning

C. F. Newcombe, a well-known museum collector in the Northwest Coast region, recorded that design motifs used on spindle whorls often represented personal spirit powers.

Item History

What

  • Name: Spindle Whorl
  • Identification Number: Nbz857 a-b
  • Type of Item: spindle whorl
  • Material: wood
  • Manufacturing Technique: incised, carved and engraved
  • Part A: height 55.4 cm, diameter 2.0 cm
  • Part B: height 1.3 cm, diameter 12.2 cm

Where

Other

  • Condition: good
  • Accession number: 1697/1 a-b

Who

When

  • Creation Date: during 1995
  • Ownership Date: before July 18, 1996
  • Acquisition Date: on July 18, 1996

This work is licensed under an Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 2.5 Canada License. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available by emailing info@moa.ubc.ca.

Ask a question

Let the RRN community answer your questions

Public

With an account, you can ask other users a question about this item. Request an Account

Shared Knowledge

Share your knowlege of this item with the RRN community

Public

With an account, you can submit information about this item and have it visible to all users and institutions on the RRN. Request an Account

Media

Similar Items