Spaak c. 1590 - 1596

This is a spaak, a clay spindle used in textile production, and was likely made in the Netherlands. Its very existence speaks to the social and economic structures of its time. The simplicity of the spaak belies the complex networks of labor, trade, and consumption that it facilitated. Imagine the hands that shaped it, the spinners who relied on it, and the consumers who ultimately wore the threads it helped produce. The growth of textile manufacture was one of the great transformations in Dutch society. It took place from the 16th century onwards and changed how people lived and worked. Historians of technology and material culture can provide valuable insights into objects like this. By studying the spaak, we can gain a deeper understanding of the lives and experiences of the people who used it.