Quimbaya Terracotta Spindle Whorl

Pre-Columbian Era, Quimbaya Culture, c. 1050-1500 AD, Cauca Region, Middle Cauca Complex, Colombia

A fantastic and rare Pre-Columbian Quimbaya spindle whorl, masterfully crafted in terracotta with an exquisite deep brownish-red hue. This large, meticulously hand-polished artifact features intricately incised linear and circular motifs, reflecting the sophisticated textile traditions of the Quimbaya civilization.

Spindle whorls—known as malacates in Aztec Mexico, husos in Spanish, and fusaiola in classical archaeology—were essential tools in ancient fiber production. These perforated weights, placed on a spindle shaft, enabled the twisting of maguey, cotton, or wool fibers into yarn. Smaller whorls rotated faster, ideal for delicate fibers, while heavier whorls provided the necessary force for coarser materials like maguey.

Typically, these whorls were spheroid, semi-spheroid, barrel-shaped, oblong, or conical, with variations in form and decoration based on local culture and period. The intricate geometric and abstract patterns were created using excision and incision techniques, often enhanced with white lime or pigments for added contrast.

Remarkably, some Pre-Columbian spindle whorls from Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru display botanical illustrations of key economic plants. These include accurate depictions of seeds, fruit sections, and fiber-producing crops such as tomatoes, peppers, gourds, squashes, and cotton—a testament to the deep agricultural knowledge of these ancient cultures.

A truly exceptional artifact, this large Quimbaya spindle whorl is a must-have for collectors of Pre-Columbian art, ancient textiles, and archaeological tools.

Excellent condition. Surface wear and abrasions commensurate with age and use. Light encrustations within recessed areas. Nice earthen deposits throughout. Size approx. 2,0cm x 3,4cm x 3,4cm.

Provenance: Swedish private collection.

References and further reading:

The thread of life: Symbolism of miniature art from Ecuador, Johannes Wilbert, Studies in Pre-Columbian Art and Archaeology, no. 12 (1974): pp. 1–112. (http://www.jstor.org/stable/41263423.)

Arte Precolombino Ecuatoriano: Las Fusaiolas o Torteras del Litoral, Funes Sánchez & Maria Antonieta, Published by Editorial Casa de la Cultura Ecuatoriana, Nucleo del Guayas, 1970.

Spinning and Weaving as Female Gender Identity in Post-Classic Mexico, Sharisse D. McCafferty and Geoffrey G. McCafferty, Textile Traditions of Mesoamerica and the Andes: An Anthology, edited by Margot Blum Schevill, Janet Catherine Berlo and Edward B. Dwyer, New York, USA: University of Texas Press, 2021, pp. 19-44. (https://doi.org/10.7560/777149-005)

The World on a Whorl: Considerations on Aztec Spindle Whorl Iconography, Jesper Nielsen, PreColumbian Textile Conference VII / Jornadas de Textiles PreColombinos VII. 5., 2017 (http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/pct7/5)

Representations on Pre-Columbian Spindle Whorls of the Floral and Fruit Structure of Economic Plants, Dorothy McMeekin, Economic Botany 46, no. 2 (1992), pp. 171–80. (http://www.jstor.org/stable/4255424.)

Spindle whorls from the Teotihuacan Valley, Mexico, MH Parsons, Anthropological Papers. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Museum of Anthropology, 1972.

The Distribution of Late Postclassic Spindle Whorls in the Valley of Mexico, MH Parsons, American Antiquity 40 (2), pp. 207-215, 1975.