Ancient Roman glass spindle whorl - 24 mm

"Ancient Roman Glass Spindle Whorl

Culture / Period: Ancient Roman
Date / Period: 1st–2nd century A.D.
Material: Glass
Dimensions: 24 mm
Condition: Good condition.

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Provenance information:
Object Registration ID: 809

The current owner purchased the Ancient Roman Glass Spindle Whorl from a private collector in Utrecht, the Netherlands.

The previous owner, a private collector (N.N.) from Utrecht, the Netherlands, stated that the object had been in his collection since the 1990s.

According to the previous owner, the object had previously been part of a private collection in the Netherlands since the 1990s.

No further information concerning the earlier ownership history of the object was available from the previous owner.

Background Information:

This finely shaped glass spindle whorl dates to the Roman Imperial period and was used as the flywheel of a hand spindle for spinning fibres into thread. Mounted near the lower end of a wooden spindle, the whorl provided weight and rotational stability, enabling the spinner to produce fine, even yarn from wool, flax, or other textile fibres. Spinning was one of the most important household crafts throughout the Roman world and formed the foundation of textile production.

Although spindle whorls were most commonly made from fired clay, stone, or lead, examples in glass are considerably less common and demonstrate the advanced glassworking techniques developed by Roman craftsmen. The carefully rounded form and central perforation indicate that this piece was intentionally manufactured for practical use rather than being adapted from another object.

Textile production was an essential part of daily life in Roman society. Women, professional textile workers, and household servants alike used spindle whorls to produce yarn that would later be woven into clothing, blankets, sails, and other fabrics. Such tools were indispensable in both domestic settings and larger workshops supplying military and civilian markets across the Empire.

Dating to the 1st–2nd century A.D., this spindle whorl reflects the high level of Roman craftsmanship and the widespread distribution of glass objects through extensive trade networks. It forms a tangible connection to the everyday lives of the people of antiquity, illustrating how even small and specialised tools played a vital role in the production of textiles throughout the Roman world."