Spindle Whorl c. 15th century

This small, 15th-century, unattributed "Spindle Whorl" is a ceramic artifact from the Minneapolis Institute of Art. The object is a rounded, hand-crafted tool, and is comprised of a sphere with a small hole in the center used for spinning thread. The spindle whorl's grooved surface and small size are characteristic of its functional purpose. The object’s age and artistic style reflect the craftsmanship of the anonymous artist who crafted this tool.