Spindle Whorl c. 15th century

This unassuming Spindle Whorl, of unknown date and creator, is a small clay object with a hole through the middle. It has been sitting here, in the Minneapolis Institute of Art, waiting to speak. Spindle whorls like this one were once essential tools in textile production, predominantly used by women in various cultures. They were attached to a spindle, aiding in twisting fibers into thread. As a tool, the whorl embodies the labor, skill, and often, the economic contributions of women throughout history. Consider how gender roles dictated that the labor of spinning and weaving often fell to women and was essential to household economies. This object serves not only as a practical artifact but also as a symbol of women’s work. We can imagine the countless hours spent spinning thread, each turn of the spindle shaping not only the fabric of daily life but also the identities and communities connected to it. What stories might it tell of the women who spun thread?