ETHEU 100999

quenouille

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100999
Distaff with anthropomorphic decoration
Greece, Peloponnese , Hydra
19th century
Wood
Georges Amoudruz collection acquired in 1976
MEG Inv. ETHEU 100999
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Whether made from wood, wicker, or metal, the distaff was used with a spindle. The carved head held the strands of wool, hemp, or linen in place, while the spindle—weighted with whorls (disc-shaped weights)—helped the spinner to supply the fibres regularly and twist them into a thread. This skill was taught to children, who perfected the technique through regular practice. Requiring both endurance and dexterity, an aptitude for spinning was long seen as the reflection of moral qualities; this is attested in many popular tales and songs. In nineteenth-century rural society, the distaff was regarded as characteristic of the authority and duties of a virtuous woman, and was offered by the fiancé to his bride.

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Leading, directing and governing

For nineteenth-century peasantry, the hierarchy of living things stretched from earth to heaven, with human beings placed between domination and subordination. Power symbols were a reminder that the balance between prerogatives and duties began at home and from there extended to the locality and society as a whole. Managing a house, leading a flock or directing a meeting required technical skills, ritual knowledge and personal qualities.

The household

In traditional society, social maturity implied control of the family's material and symbolic resources. In addition to its agrarian or artisanal occupations, the domestic community took part in the housework. The tasks were not equally divided between men and women, even if the women ran the domestic economy and managed work inside the house and its outhouses. The distaff, used for spinning, is the attribute of the virtuous woman's authority and duties. Although it is no longer part of daily life, the distaff still conveys ancient symbolic values, which are found in folk tales and popular expressions.

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