Ancient Near East Granite Stone Spindle Whorl Pendant 25mm c. 1000-500 BC COA For Sale

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Ancient Near East Granite Stone Spindle Whorl Pendant 25mm c. 1000-500 BC COA:
$117.25

Ancient Near Eastern / Levantine Hand-Carved Conical Stone Spindle Whorl & Amulet Pendant (25 mm — c. 10th–6th Century BC)

Authenticity & Guarantee

Provenance: Ex-private European collection, legally acquired from international sales; Ancient Levantine / Near Eastern Sphere.

Item Specifications & Exact Dimensions

Object: Hand-Carved Stone Spindle Whorl / Conical Amulet Pendant
Culture / Period: Ancient Near Eastern / Levantine Iron Age II
Date Range: Circa 10th Century BC – 6th Century BC (c. 1000 – 500 BC)
Exact Dimensions: 25 mm diameter × 13 mm height (Central drilled aperture approx. 4.5 mm)
Material: Hand-Carved Speckled Olive-Green Granite / Steatite Stone
Form & Architecture: Conical / domed planoconvex stone architecture with a flat resting base; features a precision-drilled central borehole created using an ancient bow drill; engineered with balanced weight distribution for smooth rotation on a spindle shaft or cord suspension as a protective pendant
Condition: Exceptional, 100% complete ancient condition. Intact structural stone matrix, smooth hand-polished exterior displaying natural mineral speckling, with light sandy-tan earthen burial encrustations inside the central aperture and around the base margin. Free of modern restoration or tooling.

HISTORICAL CONTEXT & TYPOLOGICAL LORE

Near Eastern Textile Technology & Domestic Industry

In the ancient households of Judaea, Phoenicia, and Syria, hand-carved stone whorls were fundamental tools for textile processing. Mounted on wooden spindles, their rotational mass provided the flywheel momentum needed to twist raw flax, wool, or goat hair into durable thread. The 25mm conical profile offered optimal balance during high-speed spinning.

Apotropaic Utility & Personal Amulets ("Whirl Magic")

In Near Eastern tradition, functional tools frequently doubled as personal protective charms. Polished stone whorls featuring distinct mineral grain were commonly worn suspended on cords around the neck or belt when not in use. The spinning motion carried symbolic associations with fate, domestic harmony, and apotropaic protection, transforming a daily tool into a personal amulet that guarded the spinner against malevolent influences.

Typological Analysis & Exact Classification

Primary Class: Ancient Near Eastern Domestic & Ritual Equipment / Stone Whorl
Sub-Class: Conical Planoconvex Speckled Stone Whorl / Amulet Class

Comparable Archaeological Examples & Museum Accession Numbers

Israel Museum, Jerusalem: Iron Age stone spindle whorls and conical stone pendants from Megiddo, Lachish, and Samaria excavations.
British Museum (Accession No. 1880,0503.142): Ancient Levantine conical stone whorl and cord pendant.
Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology (London, Accession No. UC38055): Near Eastern polished stone whorls with central