Producer unknown to us
Spindle
Asia, Iraq, Baghdad
Before 1962
Wood; carved, painted
Lothar Stein (former museum director) acquired this spindle during a research trip to Iraq in 1960–62
Purchased by the Museum from Stein in 1962
WAs 2021
Arab shepherds in villages and suburbs of Iraqi cities used spindles such as this one. This spindle consists of a round flying wheel (whorl) and a wooden handle painted in rings with red and black paint.
Lothar Stein (*1935) studied Arabic in Iraq from 1960 to 1962, during which time he conducted field research with local communities. In his publications, he commented on processes such as the advance of “Western” clothing styles into the cities and the gradual decline of nomadic lifestyles in rural areas. From his time there, he brought back 280 objects he had acquired for the Leipzig museum with funds from the State Secretariat of Higher and Technical Education, or items received as gifts from colleagues.
Frank Usbeck