Apr 23 2009
The [Worlds] Biggest Spindle?
Australia seems to have lots of ‘big’ things. Like the Big Banana, the Big Pineapple, the Big Merino, and now, it seems, the Big Spindle! Look what I found on a walk along the beaches in Port Macquarie, New South Wales. Just because I’m excited about everything textilley I really do expect some sort of merriment and fanfare around such delights. At least a leader thread to start the spinning off, fluttering in the wind. But no one was in sight. The spindle was left on its own acting like a passive sculpture or monument.
I don’t know the history of this work but it must be a handspindle in giant form. I imagine textile parties with spinners and weavers and small children running around with threads and yarn.
Do you think my imagination is running away to unreality land? Probably, well definitely, but wouldn’t it be nice to celebrate yarn and what it does for us. I’m heading up to Port every chance I get just to visit this fantasy. Oh well back to the land of hum drum.
that’s proper mad that is. never seen anything like it. is it wood or stone? have to show this to my brother’s girlfriend, she’s studying public art
A spindle for a giant is what I thought when I saw that picture!
WoW! Nothin’ small about Australia, eh?
It would be pretty big yarn made on that, for a pretty big loom to weave a pretty big shawl too…
The spindle is made from granite I think! It would be rather heavy for spinning and you would have to stand on a New York skyscraper to get it going, I reckon. or maybe the Sydney Harbour bridge would do.
Kaz, It kind of takes away the ‘handy porable’ use of a drop spindle! Ha ha. You would need a truck to move it around for you.
Was it part of a type of ’sculture by the sea’?
Cheers
Shirley
It’s wonderful! The whorl reminds me of a grinding stone from an old timey grist mill.