(8) Pre-Columbian Terracotta Textile Spindle Whorls. Made by many different cultures, spindle whorls are typically perforated terracotta weights used to twist fiber, used to control spin speed and tension for materials like cotton and maguey. Varying by region (Mesoamerica, Andean) and function, key styles include biconical, spherical, flattened-spheroid, cylindrical, and "door knob" shapes, often featuring incised geometric, zoomorphic, or painted designs. Each of these is a slightly different size and style, indicating the vast diversity of textile production and cultures that thrived in the Americas before the arrival of European colonists. Today, many of these whorls are made with modern materials like plastic and metal, but some indigenous peoples throughout Central and South America continue to produce their own whorls using local clay. 

Largest Size: 1 3/4 x 1 3/4 in. 

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