Thread waxing tool 19th-20th century

This thread waxing tool was made by an anonymous artist. Its form—a flat spiral—is beautifully simple, but the red decorations bring it to life. Its design makes me think about the role of art in everyday life. Tools such as this one were not just practical items but also objects of beauty and cultural expression. Unfortunately, because the artist is unknown, we lack insights into its origins. But we can still research tools that were made in a similar time and region in order to understand this object’s context and draw conclusions about its purpose. A material culture approach can reveal the values and beliefs of the society that produced it, along with the social norms of the time.