Basket distaff

Object/Artifact

-

Saco Museum

Name/Title

Basket distaff

Entry/Object ID

2024.26.1

Description

Basket, or cage, distaff, composed of six bent rods that attach to a conical finial at the top, curve inwards toward a central stick, then curve outwards while passing through a circular disk 3/4 of the way down, and finally curve in and attach near the base.

Dimensions

Height

16 in

Width

5 in

Materials

Material Notes

possibly maple

Interpretative Labels

Label Type

Cultural/Historical Context

Label

Distaffs were designed to hold unspun fibers. Processed flax was dressed onto the distaff in a fine web, which allowed the spinner to draw the strands into a continuous, uniform yarn.