Greek Terracotta: Loom weight
Inv. No.: 83.106
Provenance: Greece
Date: c. 3rd century BC
Height: 68mm
Width: 49mm (Maximum)
A terracotta loom weight, a truncated pyramid in shape, with wide beveled edges around the base. Two holes for holding the warp thread used in weaving have been bored through the weight, near the top edge. The clay is orange in colour with some white inclusions. The piece is in good condition, although the surface is pitted and scratched.
Function:
Loom weights were used to tension warp threads in the weaving of fabric on warp-weighted looms.
Manufacture:
This piece was probably shaped by hand with the leaf pattern and letters made by stamping the leather-hard clay.
Decoration:
- Towards the bottom of one side is an oval stamped depression with a low relief upright leaf in its centre.
- Beneath this leaf pattern, on the beveled bottom edge, is a rectangular stamped depression with the Greek letters G L U K in low relief.
Bibliography:
Davidson, G. R., Corinth. Volume XII: The Minor Objects, Princeton, New Jersey, The American School of Classical Studies at Athens, 1952, 146-171, especially 161-162.
Scheid, J. and J. Svenbro, The Craft of Zeus: Myths of Weaving and Fabric, trans. C. Volk, Cambridge, Massachusetts and London, England, Harvard University Press, 1996. , July 1982, V262.
Seaby Coin & Medal Bulletin
Strong, D. and D. Brown (eds.), Roman Crafts, New York, New York University Press, 1976, 170-172.
Wild, J. P., Textiles in Archaeology, Aylesbury, Shire Publications, 1988, 31-49.
Comparanda:
Boardman, J., Athenian Black Figure Vases: a Handbook, London, Thames and Hudson, 1974, Fig. 78 (lekythos by the Amasis Painter with wool working scenes).
Juliis, E. M. De, Archeologia in Puglia: I Musei Archeologici della provincia di Bari, Bari, Adda Editore, 1983, Figs. 157-159 (loom weights of similar shape with stamped patterns; 4th-3rd century BC).
Wild, J. P., Textiles in Archaeology, Aylesbury, Shire Publications, 1988, Fig. 22 (various terracotta loom weights).