Spindle Whorl

1 1/2" DIA.

This design is a fairly close copy of what may represent a shaman and two spirit helpers. Originally carved on a Cowichan spindle whorl (a flywheel used for hand spinning mountain goat wool), the symbolism of the original artifact is discussed in Suttles's Productivity and its Constraints. This essay and numerous illustrations of spindle wholrs are in Carlson's Indian Art Traditions of the Northwest Coast.

Larger view.

My original carving. Material: Asian argillite, carved with the use of a microscope.
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The original museum piece from Vancouver Island: a carved disc of maple used as a flywheel for hand-spinning mountain goat wool.
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