Terracotta loom weight
Unknown Artist
6th century BCE or later
Medium
Terracotta
Dimensions
Length: 2 in. (5 cm)
Classification
Terracottas
Culture & Period
Lydian · Archaic or later
Department
Greek and Roman Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of The American Society for the Excavation of Sardis, 1926
Accession Number
26.199.90
Art Historical Context
This unassuming terracotta loom weight, measuring just 2 inches (5 cm) in length, offers a tangible glimpse into the daily life of ancient Lydia, a prosperous kingdom in western Anatolia (modern-day Turkey) during the Archaic period or later, around the 6th century BCE Excavated from Sardis, the Lydian capital famed for its wealth under King Croesus—who reputedly made the first gold coins—these weights were essential tools in household weaving. Women suspended them from warp threads on vertical looms to maintain tension, enabling the production of woolen textiles vital for clothing, trade, and...