Pearls of Wisdom: The Arts of Islam at the University of Michigan

These small circular objects carved from bone are probably whorls—that is, the weighted part of a drop-spindle used for sustaining centripetal force while spinning yarn or thread on a spindle. Their small scale indicates that these whorls were likely used to spin a fine yarn. The incised patterns are purely decorative. However, they cleverly play with the functionality of the object, as the pattern would have been seen in both static form and in circular motion.

Bibliography: Bacharach and Rodenbeck 2002, 35–36.