Spindle Whorls or Beads

Gallery 354, European Art 1500-1850, third floor (Rubenstein Gallery)

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Spindle Whorls or Beads

16th century

Artist/maker unknown, Italian

Maiolica is an Italian term used to describe this kind of tin-glazed ceramic, which reached a height of popularity during the 1400s and 1500s. Fairly inexpensive, maiolica wares were suitable for everyday use, and these simple balls of glazed ceramic would have been used as a weight added to a spindle to increase and maintain a consistent spin in twisting fibers into yarn. Most of these beads bear the names of women, including Sobastiana Bella (Beautiful Sebastiana,) and Chiara Bella (Beautiful Chiara.) Presumably, they were presents from admirers.

Gallery 354, European Art 1500-1850, third floor (Rubenstein Gallery)

Object Details

Title:

Spindle Whorls or Beads

Date:

16th century

Artist:

Artist/maker unknown, Italian

Medium:

Tin-glazed earthenware (maiolica)

Dimensions:

1999-99-15: 5/8 × 7/8 inches (1.6 × 2.2 cm) 1999-99-16: 5/8 × 3/4 inches (1.6 × 1.9 cm) 1999-99-17: 5/8 × 5/8 inches (1.6 × 1.6 cm) 1999-99-18: 9/16 × 5/8 inches (1.4 × 1.6 cm) 1999-99-19: 7/16 × 1/2 inches (1.1 × 1.3 cm)

Classification:

Tools/Equipment

Credit Line:

125th Anniversary Acquisition. The Howard I. and Janet H. Stein Collection, 1999

Accession Number:

1999-99-15--19

Geography:

Made in Italy, Europe Possibly made in Faenza, Emilia-Romagna, Italy, Europe

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Gallery 354, European Art 1500-1850, third floor (Rubenstein Gallery)

Main Building

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