Product description
This medieval spinning whorl is modeled after a Viking-era find from Birka, Sweden. Conical spinning whorls made of clay were commonly used during the Viking Age, though round-shaped whorls were also present.The medieval spinning whorl measures approximately 4 x 2.5 cm and has a conical hole with a diameter of about 1 to 1.5 cm. Early examples of spinning whorls date back to around 6000 BC, with spinning done by hand spindle since the Neolithic. It wasn't until the High Middle Ages, around the 13th century, that the first primitive hand spinning wheels appeared.
There are many differences between modern hand spindle spinning and the medieval method. Unlike modern spindles, where the spindle and whorl are typically fixed together, medieval spindles had a loose connection. Spinning whorls were mostly made of clay, bone, antler, and sometimes soapstone. The whorl was simply placed onto the conical spindle, allowing the spinner to adjust the weight by switching whorls for different amounts of yarn or even removing it entirely when the spindle was full.
Product details
Product details:
Material: clay
Dimensions: 4 x 2.5 cm
Hole diameter: 1-1.5 cm
Based on a historic original
Shipment weight (grams): 50
