Rights Holder: Birmingham Museums Trust
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Unique ID: WAW-87C4FC
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation
A complete lead or lead alloy biconvex spindle whorl, of probable Medieval dating (AD1100 to AD 1500).
The spindle whorl is sub-circular in plan, with a central, circular perforation extending vertically through the object (internal diameter 9.26mm). The sides of the spindle whorl are slightly convex and have a repeating pattern of vertical grooves and ridges. There are four lozenge-shaped mouldings equi-distant on the sides of the object; there is a pronounced seam around the girth of the object and is suggestive that it was manufactured by casting. The seam indicating a line between the two halves of the moulds used, which were slightly misaligned as the lozenges are irregularly shaped.
The whorl has a diameter of 23.8mm and is 15.4mm thick. It weighs 34.63grams.
The whorl is of a light to mid grey colour, with an even surface patina.
Spindle whorls, as an artefact type, can be hard to date accurately as they remained in use for a long period of time, however lead alloy spindle whorls of this type are normally attributed to the Medieval period (c. AD 1100 to AD 1450). The weight of the spindle whorl is suggestive of a fine silk or linen thread being spun, as there is a direct relationship between the weight of the whorl and the thickness of the resulting thread. Fine threads such as silk require a lighter whorl than those used to spun wool or linen.
Several similar spindlewhorls have been recorded on the PAS database, including WMID-B5FF11, WMID-C5C727, NLM-A71A31, LEIC-C0D293, BERK-872E36, BH-3C4232 and BH-570998.
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Period to: MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1200
Date to: Circa AD 1350
Quantity: 1
Thickness: 15.4 mm
Weight: 34.63 g
Diameter: 23.8 mm
Date(s) of discovery: Wednesday 1st August 2018 - Monday 5th November 2018
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Primary material: Lead Alloy
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Complete
4 Figure: SO8393
Four figure Latitude: 52.53459478
Four figure longitude: -2.25205094
1:25K map: SO8393
1:10K map: SO89SW
Grid reference source: From finder
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 10 metre square.
No references cited so far.