Spindle whorl
Unknown Artist
ca. 2900–2600 BCE
Medium
Ceramic
Dimensions
0.63 in. (1.6 cm)
Classification
Ceramics-Implements
Culture & Period
Sumerian · Early Dynastic I-II
Department
Ancient Near Eastern Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1962
Accession Number
62.70.89
Art Historical Context
This petite ceramic spindle whorl, dating to around 2900–2600 BCE, offers a glimpse into the daily ingenuity of Sumerian life during the Early Dynastic I periods in ancient Mesopotamia. Measuring just 0.63 (1.6 cm) in diameter, it served as a vital tool for spinning thread: attached to a wooden spindle, its weight helped plant fibers or wool into yarn, a foundational craft for textiles essential to clothing, trade, and even sails for early boats. Crafted from fired clay—a common and durable medium in Sumerian ceramics—this implement reflects the period's advancements in pottery techniques, wh...