Replicating an Anglo-Saxon Spindle Whorl

Abstract

I was commissioned by the Leicester Arts and Museums Service to replicate a 1500 year old rock crystal faceted spindle whorl that was dug near Lutterworth Road. A spindle whorl is a disc or spherical object fitted onto the spindle to increase and maintain the speed of the spin during weaving. Due to the mineral, initial 3D scans of the crystal were inaccurate. Subsequent fine-tuning resulted in two geometries - one from the scan data being dimensionally accurate; and another being geometrically perfect - an intervention using digital technology 1500 years later. The test pieces and final replica were fabricated with the use of 3D printing. Challenges include non-contact scanning and to circumnavigate issues of the reflectivity of the crystal. The exhibit can be seen at the Jewry Museum in Leicester today.

This work was exhibited at the Digital Heritage Building Conference held on 25 May 2012 at De Montfort University

Principle Investigator: E. Pei; Researchers: A. Eland and R. Gautam