Flax Spinning Wheel

Description:

Spinning is the simple act of drawing out a few fibers and twisting them together to form a yarn. The process predates written history, and was first done by hand and with sticks. Spinning wheels are believed to have originated in India between 500 and 1000 A.D. By the 13th century, they were seen in Europe and were a standard piece of equipment for those making fiber into yarn. By the 17th century, they were commonly found in homes in the colonies of North America, where the production of fabric was a cottage industry. Spinning was generally seen as a woman's job. Women spun yarn at home, as well as with friends at "spinning bees," where food was served and prizes might be given to the person who produced the most or best yarn. The Industrial Revolution brought mechanization to the textile industry, and eventually spinning was done on large machines in textile mills.

This vertical flax wheel was made in France by George Beck, in 1694. Mr. Beck gave it to Adeline Beck, who passed it onto Margaret Beck in Paris, France in 1807. In 1822 she brought it to the United States and she used it in Cincinnati and Muskingum, Ohio, for spinnng fiber into yarn. It was given to the Museum by one of her descendants in 1886.

Date Made: 1694Date Made: 1694 ?

Associated Name: Beck, GeorgeBeck, AdelineBeck, MargaretMaker: Beck, George

Location: Currently not on view

Place Made: France

Maker: French

Subject:

See more items in: Home and Community Life: Textiles, Work, Textiles

Exhibition:

Exhibition Location:

Credit Line: Gift of Mr. Charles Beck

Data Source: National Museum of American History

Id Number: TE.02507Accession Number: 17300Catalog Number: T2507

Object Name: spinning wheel, flaxspinning wheelObject Type: hand tools

Physical Description: ivory (overall material)wood (overall material)

Guid: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746aa-7ae1-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record Id: nmah_1200991

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