The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of May 15, 2026

A circular, domed bone object features a central void ringed by two concentric grooves. Deeply carved V-shaped notches radiate along the outer edge in a repeating sunburst pattern. The warm, off-white surface is textured with fine, thread-like cracks and subtle surface wear. Soft light glides across the raised ridges of the dome, casting shallow shadows into the geometric incisions. A slight irregularity along the bottom edge breaks the object's otherwise round symmetry.

Spindle Whorl

700s - 900s

Iran, early Islamic period

bone, incised
Overall: 0.7 x 1.8 x 1.8 cm (1/4 x 11/16 x 11/16 in.)
Gift of Edward Gans 1962.317
Location: Not on view
  • found at Kufa (Iraq); Ernst Herzfeld.
  • Year in Review (1963). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (November 27, 1963-January 5, 1964).
  • {{cite web|title=Spindle Whorl|url=false|author=|year=700s - 900s|access-date=15 May 2026|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1962.317