The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of April 16, 2026

A thick, circular red bone spindle whorl features a series of beige circular patterns around a central opening. These recessed circles have a granular texture and each contains a smaller red ring in its center. The polished, warm red surface slopes toward a wide outer rim. A minor chip appears on the inner edge. This repeating dot-and-ring motif creates a rhythmic border against the smooth, lustrous material of the ring.

Spindle Whorl

700s - 900s

Iran, early Islamic period

bone, incised
Overall: 0.6 x 1.5 x 1.5 cm (1/4 x 9/16 x 9/16 in.)
Gift of Edward Gans 1962.329
Location: Not on view
  • 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=16 April 2026|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1962.329