At lace class this morning we had show and tell. Show and tell is usually not lace as it takes forever to make one piece of lace. Christine brought this beautiful wooden wheel??? She found it at an antique shop and had to take it home with her even though she had no idea what it was. We all made guesses having to do with spinning, yarn winding and the like but we just don't know. I suggested that I post it on my blog because surely one of you would know what this is or have a better idea than we did. So here it is...4 views and it is made of wood. I can't wait to hear what you think.
The string that you see in the center is just string that Christine used to hang it. It was not there when it was purchased. I didn't measure it but my guess is that it's about 16"+ in diameter.
UPDATE ON MYSTERY: Thursday, Dec. 8, 2011
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| looks very much like this. something fits over the spokes to hold the thread around the wheel. |
Thanks Geraldine for leading me to this search of a 'silk spinning wheel', and to all of you who contributed with suggestions.
FINAL UPDATE THANKS TO GERALDINE IN THE UK. ---Dec. 9, 2011
It looks like Geraldine took a picture off of her tv screen of what she saw.
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| winding the silk on the wheel before weaving. it was on a UK program called 'Manor Reborn'. It appears to be a renovation of Avebury Manor. They are capturing the silk to weave the curtains. |
28 comments:
Nice object, but I have no clue sorry! I would like to know what it is. Will be back and check it later - Hugs Nat
Looks like a wool winder of some kind, but never seen one quite like that.
Oh that is a good one! I'd guess a winder for wool too.
well, the expert knitters in my lace class say it is not a wool winder. i'm thinking maybe it's some kind of a propeller...
I have a towel rack from Japan that is that shape, but It is only one layer of spokes. Maybe it is something of that sort?
not a propeller because the blades are not shaped to move air, but not sure, will pass it to a spinning expert and see if i can get an answer.
have to agree with casey--looks like a drying rack. nice.
It looks more like a garden implement to aerate the ground before planting. Whatever it is, it is wonderful.
http://jalapfaff.blogspot.com/2011/05/spinning-wheels-dressed-in-saffron.html
i googled 'yarn spinning..' and came up with the link above...i think it may be part of a large spinner, not that i know anything about them, but the worn parts of this made me wonder...
lol..word veri...'unssur'..un-sure....lol
it seems to be covered with perhaps a grease or dirt perhaps? if it's lanolin then it's definately something to do with spinning wool. My guess is that it's off a spinning wheel of some sort, ie it's only one part of the whole object, hence the difficulty in identifying it.
those of you who are following along, check out these 2 pictures of spinning wheels. you'll probably have to copy and paste and then scroll down some.
http://blogs.usembassy.gov/roemer/2011/05/16/the-spirit-of-gandhiji/
http://mitchellktravelphoto.wordpress.com/2009/02/16/going-south-or-chocolate-school-pen-hello-ten-rupees/
Yep, that makes sense. I'm remembering now a photo I've seen of Gandhi spinning...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohandas_Karamchand_Gandhi
There is a different one than the one I remember at his wikipedia page
thanks for that new pic Deb G. it's appearing to me that this is in fact a part of a spinning wheel. hope you're all enjoying this mystery as much as i am and thank you all for your participation.
just watching a programe here in england about the renivation of a manor house and guess what i saw. YES this very thing being used in the makeing of silk curtains it is used to hold the silk before it goes on the reel before the weaving.if i can i will try and fined out more for you.GERALDINE.
oh wow geraldine. are there any links online about the show that i can click into? what was the name of the program?
you have me so excited.
the programe is on bbc 1 tomorrow you can watch it on bbc iplayer it is called the manor reborn. don't know if you can get it in usa. if you go on the national trust page and put in avebury manor there are links about the programe.
i did a search and found the program but it says that the bbc iplayer is only available in the UK. do they talk about it in the program or give it a specific name? and thank you so much for the info your giving.
I think the mystery is solved. I have updated this post with a new picture found on google images after searching for a 'silk spinning wheel'. Thanks to Geraldine who led me to that search with her comments. So check the post so you can see what I found.
Glad you have solved the mystery! Isn't it stunning!! Ofcourse I had no idea what it was. You have such great posts Deanna. Marg, ox
I have enjoyed following this post thanks Deanna for such interesting post - Enjoy your weekend - hugs Nat
I just posted a final update to this post. Geraldine took a picture off of her tv screen and it is exactly like Christine's antique.
ah, i had one of these wheels and i knew it was a spinning thing, but couldn't remember where the image in my head came from. yes!
it's an amazing piece of engineering...I arrived after the mystery was solved but before I got to that bit I was thinking something along the lines of a knitting Nancy for socks or something....how wrong could I be....
oh, i am so behind everywhere! loved reading all of the guessing, i'm so not spatial, even being a spinner, i would not have guessed what it was.
i've had that movie on my netflix list for awhile now, going to go move it up the list.
& gorgeous gorgeous dying- were you ever a scientist- you are so good at experimenting!
Ah YES ! I saw that BBC program too ! What a mystery!
ooh, i'm so glad to know what this is! i have seen a similar discussion on ravelry, with people asking and speculating, but no for-sure answer. here's one i just saw on ebay and they don't know either!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320811464972&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1123
earlyamericantextiletools@yahoo.com
This is a Shaker Silk reel. The Shakers had a community called Pleasant Hill in Tennesee where they raised silk for a time. This is a silk reel.
In New Hampshire during the 1800s' there was a huge interest in developing a cottage industry raising silk worms as well. It was considered successful until either a blight or a sever winter killed off the Mullberry trees that provided food for the silk worms. The industry died but for two commercial producers who continue in N.H. to this day.
Kathryn
I too watched that manor reborn prog and now reading here, about your whirly wheel thought exactly the same that it was a thread spindle of sorts and it did resemble the one in the tv prog.
How great that between all then visitors youve solved the case and it can be agttributed to tghe shakers. What great fun!
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