No photograph is shown for this exhibition. The museum displays an image only where it can show the object honestly.
About this date
The earliest firm evidence comes from the Islamic world and India around the 11th–13th centuries, with European images from the 13th century. Earlier origins are possible.
About credit
The wheel’s origin is uncertain. It probably spread along trade routes between Asia and Europe.
Chapter II
The world before
Life before the Spinning Wheel
Thread was twisted by hand with a drop spindle, a slow process that limited cloth production.
II
The human achievement
How it came about
Spinners turned a large wheel that rotated a spindle through a cord. Later European wheels added a flyer that twisted and wound the yarn in one step, allowing continuous spinning.
III
Understanding the invention
How it works
The Spinning Wheel, explained in two steps.
01
Step 01 of 02
Twist makes thread
Twisting fibres together binds them so they hold.
Twist makes thread
Big wheel, small spindle
IV
The transformation
What changed for humanity
Textiles
Households and workshops produced more yarn for weaving.
Work
Spinning was a major source of women’s work and income in medieval Europe.
Thread supply is the base of cloth making. Faster spinning created the pressure that, centuries later, led to mechanised spinning.
V
Before and after
Life before and after The Spinning Wheel
Before
Hand spindle, steady hands, slow progress.
After
Continuous spinning at a wheel.
On larger screens, drag the divider (or use the arrow keys) to give more room to the world before or after.