Harvard Art Museums > 1960.615: Loom Weight Tools and Equipment Collections Search Exit Deep Zoom Mode Zoom Out Zoom In Reset Zoom Full Screen Add to Collection Order Image Copy Link Copy Citation Citation"Loom Weight , 1960.615,” Harvard Art Museums collections online, Apr 16, 2024, https://hvrd.art/o/290972. Reuse via IIIF Toggle Deep Zoom Mode Download This object does not yet have a description. Identification and Creation Object Number 1960.615 Title Loom Weight Classification Tools and Equipment Work Type loom weight Date 400 BCE-400 CE Period Roman Imperial period Culture Roman Persistent Link https://hvrd.art/o/290972 Physical Descriptions Medium Terracotta Technique Carved Dimensions 8.9 x 3.9 x 4.5 cm (3 1/2 x 1 9/16 x 1 3/4 in.) Acquisition and Rights Credit Line Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Bequest of David M. Robinson Accession Year 1960 Object Number 1960.615 Division Asian and Mediterranean Art Contact am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu Permissions The Harvard Art Museums encourage the use of images found on this website for personal, noncommercial use, including educational and scholarly purposes. To request a higher resolution file of this image, please submit an online request. Descriptions Description Conic shaped loom weight, pierced near vertex and unglazed. The cone is slightly asymmetrical and lists towards one side. The surface is whitish with chips near the tip, showing the red color beneath. There are modern pencil marks on two of the sides, mainly numerals. The loom weight can stand alone on its base. Commentary LIVE LIKE A ROMAN: DAILY LIFE OBJECT COLLECTION Weaving in the ancient world was the primary duty of women. It was one of the main ways in which a household could be self-sufficient. Women wove clothing, cushions and covers for wooden furniture, and wall coverings. Wool was the most common material used, followed by linen. If a family had its own sheep, they could produce their own wool. However, flax and linen had to be imported from elsewhere when there was a lack of fertile land. Silk and cotton were both rare materials and were not often used for clothing. To prepare wool for weaving, it had to be cleaned and dyed with mineral or vegetable compounds. The wool was then spun with a distaff and spindle, preparing the yarn. Yarn was woven into other threads hanging from the top of the loom with weights at the bottom to keep them taut. This is called a warp-weighted loom and was very popular in ancient Greece, as seen on numerous red and black figure vases. [Jessica Pesce 8/18/2010] Subjects and Contexts Roman Domestic Art Verification Level This record was created from historic documentation and may not have been reviewed by a curator; it may be inaccurate or incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. For more information please contact the Division of Asian and Mediterranean Art at am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu
